Phytochemical profiling and biological activity of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) mediated by various solvent extracts against Aedes aegypti larvae and toxicity evaluation

Objective: To analyze the phytochemical compounds and to investigate the bio-toxic efficacy of various solvent extracts of Plectranthus amboinicus against mosquito larvae activity and lethality on non-targeting organisms. Methods: The methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, and aqueous extracts of Plectranthus amboinicus were subjected to analyze the mosquitocidal activity against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti and toxicity assays on zebra fish and brine shrimp. Three replications were performed, and negative control was also maintained. Amongst, ethyl acetate extract of Plectranthus amboinicus was chosen for the determination of bio-active compounds. Results: The mosquitocidal assays of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Plectranthus amboinicus showed the maximal activity with minimal concentration against the 4th instar mosquito-larvae of Aedes aegypti through the following lethal concentration (LC50 and LC90) values: 53.36 & 92.51 μg/mL and 13.64 & 86.09 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, the plant extracts showed no toxicity on zebra fish embryo and brine shrimp assays. The gas-chromatography analysis of the ethyl acetate extract of Plectranthus amboinicus revealed the presence of seven different compounds. Among them, PAEA-fraction 60 contained a major active bioactive compound, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (270.0). Conclusions: Plectranthus amboinicus possesses mosquitocidal properties and could be used as a potential alternative source for preparing the mosquitocidal agents.

External application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of bone cancer pain: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bone cancer pain presents a clinical challenge with limitations of current treatments. Many patients seek additional therapies that may relieve pain. Many external applications of traditional Chinese medicines (EAs-TCMs) have been evaluated in clinical trials, but fewer are known about them outside of China. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy for bone cancer pain. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in seven databases until December 2014 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about EAs-TCMs in the treatment of bone cancer pain. The primary outcome was total pain relief rate. The secondary outcomes were adverse events at the end of treatment course. The methodological quality of RCTs was assessed independently using six-item criteria according to the Cochrane Collaboration. All data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.2.0. We included any RCTs evaluating an EA-TCM for the treatment of bone cancer pain. We conducted a meta-analysis. RESULTS: We included six RCTs with 534 patients. In general, the reporting of methodological issues was poor. Compared with morphine sulfate sustained release tablets (MSSRTs) or radiotherapy or bisphosphonates, we analyzed data from five trials reporting on complete response effect score (relative risk (RR) = 5.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.80-10.31, P < 0.00001) and partial response (RR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02-1.37, P = 0.02) and six trials reporting on total pain relief rate (RR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.43-1.67, P < 0.00001). Six RCTs showed significant effects of EA-TCM for improving pain relief in patients with bone cancer pain. In addition, no severe adverse events were found. CONCLUSION: This systematic review showed positive but weak evidence of EA-TCM for bone cancer pain because of the poor methodological quality and the small quantity of the included trials. Future rigorously designed RCTs are required.

Effects of four extracts of traditional Chinese medicinal materials on the proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cell line / 中国药理学通报

AIM To study the influence of four extracts of traditional Chinese medicinal materials(sodium cantharidinate, matrine, cinobufotain and sodium ferlate) on the proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cell line and breast cancer MCF7 cell line;the possible mechanism of sodium ferlate on the inhibition of A549 cells. METHODS The inhibition of cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS All four extracts of traditional Chinese medicinal materials showed growth inhibition to breast cancer MCF7 cells while only sodium ferlate showed inhibition to lung cancer A549 cells. Synergistic inhibition was found when sodium ferlate was combined with each of the three commonly-used chemotheraputic drugs. Sodium ferlate could induce A549 cell apoptosis. CONCULSION The inhibition of cell proliferation induced is by sodium cantharidinate, matrine, and cinobufotain is quite different between different cancer cell lines. Sodium ferlate can inhibit cancer cell proliferation and show synergistic action while combined with chemotheraputic drugs. The mechanism of sodium ferlate on A549 cell proliferation seem to be related to the cell apoptosis.