Bioactive Principles and Potentiality of Hot Methanolic Extract of the Leaves from Artemisia absinthium L "in vitro Cytotoxicity Against Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Antibacterial Study and Wound Healing Activity".

BACKGROUND: Artemisia absinthium L is an ornamental plant widespread in Saudi Arabia. Traditionally, the plant has been used in the Arabic medicine. But the scientific evidence of the bioactive compounds and their medicinal value was not yet explored widely. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to analyse the bioactive principles and medicinal properties of Artemisia absinthium L, a traditional herb grown in southern part of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The bioactive compounds present in Hot Methanolic Extract of the Leaves (HMEL) of Artemisia absinthium L. was explored by GC-MS analysis. The cytotoxicity effect of HMEL was determined against MCF-7 breast cancer cells ATCC and human colon cancer cells HCT 116 ATCC by performing MTT assay. Morphological changes of HMEL treated MCF-7 were observed under a phasecontrast microscope by staining the cells with neutral red. A Reaction Mixture (RM) of HMEL was prepared in Milli-Q water and antibacterial susceptibility was performed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, in vivo wound healing properties of the RM was screened in male rats and their efficacy was compared with standard povidone iodine cream. Biomarkers such as IL-1ß, IL- 6, TNF- α, caspase-9 and caspase-3 levels were determined to qualify the wound healing property. RESULTS: Epiyangambin, flavone, octadecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester, palmitic acid ß - monoglyceride, á-D-mannofuranoside, camphor, and terpineol were identified as possible compounds through GC-MS analysis. The HMEL of Artemisia absinthium L was actively inhibiting the proliferation of breast cancer cells MCF-7 ATCC at the concentration of 80.96 ± 3.94 µg/ml as IC50 value but failed to inhibit the proliferation against the treated human colon cancer cells HCT 116 cells ATCC. HMEL of Artemisia absinthium L was showing a moderate spectrum of antibacterial effect against the screened bacteria. RM showed better wound healing property than standard povidone iodine cream that modulates cytokine networks and apoptosis markers levels indicated the healing of wound. CONCLUSION: The study suggested that novel anticancer, antibacterial and immune modulatory molecules can be developed from the leaves of Artemisia absinthium L.

Thidiazuron-induced changes in biomass parameters, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity in callus cultures of Artemisia absinthium L.

Callus culture of Artemisia absinthium L. was established for enhanced production of phenolics and higher antioxidant activity. Callus was induced from seed-derived leaf explants, incubated on to MS media supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.5-5.0 mg/l) either alone or in combination with α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 1.0 mg/l). These callus cultures were investigated for their growth kinetics, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity on weekly basis for a period of 49 days. Maximum dry biomass accumulation of 8.73 g/l was observed on day 42 in response to 1.0 mg/l TDZ and 1.0 mg/l NAA. Furthermore, maximum level of total phenolic content of 8.53 mg GAE/g DW and highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of 72.6% were observed in calli formed in response to 1.0 mg/l TDZ on day 42. The results showed a positive correlation of total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity in most of the callus cultures of A. absinthium L.

Morphogenic and biochemical variations under different spectral lights in callus cultures of Artemisia absinthium L.

Through its impact on morphogenesis, light is the key environmental factor that alters plant architectural development; however, the understanding that how light controls plant growth and developmental processes is still poor and needs further research. In this study, we monitored the effect of various monochromatic lights and plant growth regulators (PGRs) combinations on morphogenic and biochemical variation in wild grown-leaf derived callus cultures of Artemisia absinthium L. Combination of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA 1.0mg/l) and Thidiazuron (TDZ 2.0mg/l) resulted in optimum callogenic frequency (90%) when kept under fluorescent light for 4weeks (16/8h). In contrast to the control (white spectrum), red spectrum enhanced peroxidase activity, protease activity, total protein content and chlorophyll a/b ratio. Green spectrum was found to be more supportive for total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity. Yellow light enhanced MDA content while white and green light improved total chlorophyll content and carotenoid content. A positive correlation among callogenic response, antioxidant activities and set of antioxidative enzyme activities was also observed in the current report. This study will help in understanding the influence of light on production of commercially important secondary metabolites and their optimization in the in vitro cultures of A. absinthium L.

Fecha de plantación y momento de cosecha de Artemisia absinthium / Planting date and harvesting moment of Artemisia absinthium L

En la Estación Experimental de Plantas Medicinales "Dr. Juan T. Roig" y sobre un suelo ferralítico rojo hidratado se establecieron 8 plantaciones de Artemisia absinthium L. entre enero y agosto (una mensual) en los años 1999 y 2000, empleando plántulas obtenidas in vitro. El marco de plantación fue de 2 hileras por cantero (30 cm entre hileras) con distancia entre plantas de 40 cm. Los canteros se distribuyeron mediante un diseño de bloques al azar, con 3 réplicas para cada tratamiento. Se realizaron 2 cosechas en cada tratamiento y año, con una altura de corte de 40 cm y se emplearon 2 fechas de inicio de cosecha: a los 5 y 6 meses después de establecida la plantación. Las segundas cosechas se realizaron también a los mismos intervalos de tiempo. Se evaluaron los rendimientos de follaje, la altura y el número de ramas en plantas. Los datos se procesaron con el empleo de un análisis de varianza de clasificación doble. Las medias se compararon mediante la prueba de Rangos Múltiples de Duncan. Los resultados demostraron que las plantaciones deben realizarse en enero, que es cuando se obtienen los mayores rendimientos de material vegetal y recoger las cosechas a los 5 meses de edad(AU)

Evaluación y control de calidad de la tintura homeopática de Artemisia absinthium L / Evaluation and quality control of the homeopathic tincture of Artemisia absinthium L

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo fundamental el estudio de la evaluación y control de calidad de la tintura homeopática de Artemisia absinthium L. cultivada en las condiciones de Cuba, especie de amplio uso y reconocido valor terapéutico. En la investigación se utilizaron las partes aéreas y floridas frescas de dicha planta. Se obtuvieron 13 lotes de tintura según el método de la escuela francesa; a un título de etanol del 65 por ciento v/v y se establecieron los indicadores de calidad tales como: características organolépticas, imagen capilar, índice de refracción, densidad relativa, pH, título de etanol y porcentaje de residuo seco. Se realizaron pruebas de identificación para determinar la presencia de cetonas bicíclicas, fenoles y turbidez y fue estandarizado además por cromatografía en capa delgada un perfil de la tintura. En todos los lotes obtenidos, sus indicadores de calidad se encontraron dentro de los límites establecidos por las farmacopeas tomadas como referencias. Se realizó un estudio para determinar el tiempo de vida útil de la tintura por un año a temperatura ambiente en frascos de vidrio de color ámbar de 30 mL y se pudo comprobar que en estas condiciones conservó sus características de forma óptima y que el conteo microbiano se mantuvo por debajo de los niveles permisibles durante todo el experimento. Estos resultados demostraron que es realmente posible obtener esta tintura en Cuba con una calidad similar a la exigida por farmacopeas homeopáticas oficiales(AU)