亚洲传统医药

Abstract: Justicia gendarussa (Acanthaceae) is commonly known as Nili-Nirgundi. Ethnobotanically, it is a decoction of the leaf and root of J. gendarussa used to treat chronic rheumatism. In this study, different extracts of this plant were screened for their cytotoxicity using a brine shrimp lethality test. The authenticated material of J. gendarussa was fractionated based on polarity and a bioassay was carried out in a 24-well plate. Experiments were conducted along with a control, methotrexate, and different concentrations (1-1000 µg/ml) of the test substances examined in triplicate using a brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Among the fractions of different polarity, the methanolic extract showed the highest cytotoxicity. The activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic fraction yielded an active toluene fraction with one major compound, which exhibited a marked cytotoxic effect on brine shrimps. At a dose level 100 μg/ml the active fraction elicited 100% hatching inhibition, and in the toxicity assay it had an LD₅₀ value of 25.44 μg/ml which might indicate cytotoxic activity. The isolated compound from the toluene fraction showed an LD₅₀ of 8.13 µg/ml. This can be used as a lead molecule to discover new anticancer drugs and will also be a useful tool for investigation of other autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to determine the cytotoxic properties of the leaf and root of Justicia gendarussa and identify the active fraction for the isolation of other bioactive constituents.

Key words: cytotoxic, J. gendarussa, brine shrimp lethality assay, methotrexate