RESUMEN
Background: The rhizome of Languas galangal is traditionally used in Sri Lanka for the treatment of skin infections caused by fungi. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of L. galangal rhizome and to develop a topical antifungal formulation from it. Methods: The dried, powdered rhizome of L. galangal was successively extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol using Soxhlet extraction. The agar well diffusion method was used to assess the antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus nger. The antifungal activities of the extracts were compared with clotrimazole as the positive control and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the negative control. The most active hexane extract was used to prepare the cream. The antifungal activity of the formulated cream was tested. Results: The hexane extract of L. galangal rhizome powder was more effective on C. albicans and A. niger. The hexane extract of L. galangal showed the maximum zone of inhibition against C. albicans and A. niger (20.20 mm ± 0.46, 18.20 mm ± 0.46) compared to the other three extracts, while clotrimazole, which was used as a positive control, produced a larger zone of inhibition (36.10 mm ± 0.65) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the negative control, did not produce inhibitory zones. Stability testing of the formulated cream showed a stable and good appearance. Conclusions: The cream developed using the hexane extract showed in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger. Further evaluations on shelf life, stability and safety are required.
RESUMEN
Medicinal plants have been the main focus of natural product research. However, recent research has revealed that lower plants including bryophytes are also a major resource of biologically active compounds with novel structures. Sri Lanka is considered as a biodiversity hotspot with a higher degree of endemism flora including bryophytes. In this study, different species of bryophytes were investigated for their antimicrobial and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities. The air-dried plant materials of 6 different bryophyte species, Marchantia sp., Fissidens sp., Plagiochila sp., Sematophyllum demissum, Hypnum cupressiforme, and Calymperes motley, were subjected to sequential cold extraction with 3 different organic solvents. All three types of organic crude extracts were subjected to screening of antimicrobial bioassays using the disc-diffusion method against 3 bacterial strains and 1 fungal strain. According to the results obtained, 6 extracts out of 18 showed antibacterial activity for tested Gram-positive bacteria and 1 active against Gram-negative bacteria. Two extracts showed activity against the pathogenic fungus strain. Extracts from some plants were active against tested bacterial as well as fungal species. TLC-based bioautographic study was carried out to identify the corresponding active bands which is useful for active compound isolation. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate extracts were subjected to evaluate alpha-amylase inhibitory activity where three extracts out of six extracts showed moderate inhibitory activity for alpha-amylase with IC50 ranging 8-30%.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Flueggea leucopyrus Willd is a shrub grown in many parts of the dry zones in Sri Lanka. The leaves of F. leucopyrus has been used for treating cancer in the traditional system of medicine in Sri Lanka. Hence, this study was performed to analyze the antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of the aqueous extract of the leaves of F. leucopyrus on HEp-2 cells. METHOD: The aqueous extract of F. leucopyrus leaves (AEFLL) was freeze dried. Total phenolic content was assayed using Folin Ciocalteu reagent. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using in vitro assays: inhibition of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation assay. Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity was determined by using Griess reagent. The MTT, LDH assays and protein synthesis were used to study antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against the Hep-2 cell after 24 hour exposure. DNA fragmentation and microscopic examination of cells stained with a mixture of ethidium bromide/acridine orange were used to visualize apoptosis in HEp-2 cells treated with the AEFLL. RESULTS: The total phenolic content of the extract was 22.15 ± 1.65 (w/w) % of gallic acid equivalent. The values for EC50 were 11.16 ± 0.37, 4.82 ± 1.82 and 23.77 ± 3.16 µg/mL for DPPH radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity and 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation assay respectively. The EC50 with MTT and LDH assays were 506.8 ± 63.16 and 254.52 ± 42.92 µg/mL respectively. A dose dependent decrease in protein synthesis in HEp-2 cells was shown with an EC50 value of 305.84 ± 12.40 µg/mL. DNA fragmentation and ethidium bromide/acridine assays showed that the AEFLL induces apoptosis in HEp-2 cells. These results were in conformity with the morphological changes observed in the cells treated with the AEFLL. The brine shrimp bioassay showed that the AEFLL had no lethality over the concentration range of 50-500 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous extract of the leaves of F. leucopyrus extract demonstrated antioxidant activity in vitro. Further it showed antiproliferative properties and induced apoptosis in HEp-2 cells.