Cytotoxic, Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Heliotropium indicum Extracts
Jitpisute Chunthorng-Orn MSc*, Bhanuz Dechayont MSc*, Pathompong Phuaklee MSc*, Onmanee Prajuabjinda MSc*, Thana Juckmeta MSc**, Arunporn Itharat PhD *,**
Affiliation : * Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand ** Center of Excellence on Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Research (CEATMR), Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Background : Heliotropium indicum Linn., or ‘Indian heliotrope’ is very common in India with a long history of traditional
medicinal uses in many countries in the world. In Thailand, the plant has been traditionally use to cure various diseases such
as fever, insect bites, stings, diarrhea, skin rashes, menstrual disorder and urticaria. In addition, the plant is commonly used
by Thai folk doctors as a component in remedies for treatment of lung cancer.
Objective : In the present study, we investigated cytotoxicity against two types of lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI-H226),
anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity of Heliotropium indicum extracts.
Material and Method: The water and ethanolic extracts of Heliotropium indicum were tested. The cytotoxic activity against
two types of human lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI-H226) was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The anti-
inflammatory effect was investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced nitric
oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess reagent. The antioxidant activity was performed by 1, 1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) radical scavenging method.
Results : The ethanolic extract showed cytotoxic activity only against NCI-H226 (IC50 = 51.90+2.35 μg/ml) whereas the water
extract had no cytotoxic activity against both A549 and NCI-H226 (IC50 >100 μg/ml). For anti-inflammatory effect, the results
revealed that the ethanolic extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production (IC50 = 24.17+2.12
μg/ml), followed by Indomethacin (positive control) with an IC50 value of 34.67+6.23 μg/ml while water extract was
apparently inactive (IC50 >100 μg/ml). For antioxidant activity, the ethanolic extract showed high antioxidant activity (EC50
= 28.91+4.26 μg/ml) but the water extract showed no antioxidant activity (EC50 >100 μg/ml).
Conclusion : These results can support using Heliotropium indicum Linn. for component in lung cancer remedy by Thai folk
doctors. However, more studies are required.
Keywords : Cytotoxicity, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Heliotropium indicum Linn
