Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of Lycopus uniflorus fractions

Lycopus uniflorus, referred to as bugleweed, is widely spread in Lebanon near freshwater wetland. The plant has been used in Lebanese folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation and gastrointestinal disorders. The present study aims to evaluate the potential effects of the methanolic extract of L. uniflorus leaves in acute and chronic inflammatory models using the carrageenan and formalin- induced rat paw edema models (1). We also investigated the anti-proliferative effects of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions on MDA (breast) and HT-29 (colon) cancer cells. The results showed that intraperitoneal pretreatment with doses of 200, 100 and 50 mg/kg BW caused 71%, 30% and 18% inhibition of acute inflammation respectively. Similarly, daily treatment over six days with the same doses exhibited 77%, 65% and 28% inhibition of chronic inflammation induced by formalin. Treatment with diclofenac (10 mg/kg BW) caused 75% and 61% inhibition of acute and chronic inflammation respectively. No signs of toxicity were shown at the administered doses. On the other hand, the results on MDA and HT-29 cells proliferation were more notable by ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions. The effects were dose-dependent for the ethyl acetate fraction on MDA (89%, 54% and 37%) and HT-29 cells (79%, 53% and 11%) at 200, 100 and 50 µg/ml, respectively. Similar effects were observed at the same doses for the chloroform fraction on MDA cells 82%, 49.5% and 28.5%) and HT-29 cells (65%, 40.5% and 15%), respectively. In conclusion, Lycopus uniflorus can be considered a potential source for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents.

References:

[1] Chau, T.T., 1989. Analgesic Testing In Animal Models. In: Pharmacological Methods in the Control of Inflammation, Chang, J.Y. and A.J. Lewis (Ed.). Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, pp: 448.

Acknowledgments: Mr. Jean Karam.