title: Anticancer and antimicrobial activities of some antioxidant-rich cameroonian medicinal plants.
abstract: Traditional remedies have a long-standing history in Cameroon and continue to provide useful and applicable tools for treating ailments. Here, the anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of ten antioxidant-rich Cameroonian medicinal plants and of some of their isolated compounds are evaluated.The plant extracts were prepared by maceration in organic solvents. Fractionation of plant extract was performed by column chromatography and the structures of isolated compounds (emodin, 3-geranyloxyemodin, 2-geranylemodin) were confirmed spectroscopically. The antioxidant activity (AOA) was determined using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) bleaching method, the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and the hemoglobin ascorbate peroxidase activity inhibition (HAPX) assays. The anticancer activity was evaluated against A431 squamous epidermal carcinoma, WM35 melanoma, A2780 ovary carcinoma and cisplatin-resistant A2780cis cells, using a direct colorimetric assay. The total phenolic content in the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Rumex abyssinicus showed the best AOA among the three assays employed. The AOA of emodin was significantly higher than that of 3-geranyloxyemodin and 2-geranylemodin for both TEAC and HAPX methods. The lowest IC(50) values (i.e., highest cytotoxicity) were found for the extracts of Vismia laurentii, Psorospermum febrifugum, Pentadesma butyracea and Ficus asperifolia. The Ficus asperifolia and Psorospermum febrifugum extracts are selective against A2780cis ovary cells, a cell line which is resistant to the standard anticancer drug cisplatin. Emodin is more toxic compared to the whole extract, 3-geranyloxyemodin and 2-geranylemodin. Its selectivity against the platinum-resistant A2780cis cell line is highest. All of the extracts display antimicrobial activity, in some cases comparable to that of gentamycin.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Jean de Dieu
authors: Jde D
authors: Tamokou
authors: Jean Rodolphe
authors: JR
authors: Chouna
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Fischer-Fodor
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Chereches
authors: Otilia
authors: O
authors: Barbos
authors: Grigore
authors: G
authors: Damian
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Benedec
authors: Mihaela
authors: M
authors: Duma
authors: Alango Pépin Nkeng
authors: AP
authors: Efouet
authors: Hippolyte Kamdem
authors: HK
authors: Wabo
authors: Jules Roger
authors: JR
authors: Kuiate
authors: Augustin
authors: A
authors: Mot
authors: Radu
authors: R
authors: Silaghi-Dumitrescu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019800:Phenol