Planta Med 2015; 81 - PM_123
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565500

Effect of the aqueous leaves extract of Clerodendron splendens on physiology of HaCaT keratinocytes

E Kisseih Oppong Bekoe 1, C Agyare 2, S Oppong Bekoe 3, A Hensel 4
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics and Microbiology, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, Accra, Ghana
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • 4University of Münster, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Correnstr. 48, D-48149, Münster, Germany

Clerodendron splendens G. Don (Verbenaceae) has been used for centuries ethnopharmacologically to treat a variety of medicinal problems in Africa, including wounds, blisters and bruises [1]. Although several investigations have been conducted on the biological activities of the extracts, none so far determines the effect of the extract on skin cells. This research aims at investigating the in vitro physiological effect of the aqueous leaves extract of C. splendens on HaCaT keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are the main cells of the epidermis and any agent used for the treatment of skin conditions will firstly come in contact with these cells. To determine the effect of the aqueous leaves extract on keratinocytes, the functional activities of the extract were investigated on HaCaT cells by determining effect on viability, proliferation and necrotic cytotoxicity by the MTT, BrdU and LDH assays respectively. Positive controls respectively were 5% and 1% FCS and 10% triton-X 100. For quality control, the HPLC fingerprint chromatogram was also developed. Results from this study showed a significant increase in metabolic activity of HaCaT cells at low concentrations of 0.1 and 1 µg/mL (***p < 0.001) with cellular viability of 113 ± 5% and 113 ± 6% respectively followed by a decrease in viability at 10 and 100 µg/mL (**p < 0.01). There was a significant increase in proliferation also at 0.1 and 1 µg/mL (***p < 0.001 and *p < 0.05) with a stimulation of 108 ± 3% and 105 ± 7% respectively. In the LDH assay, the extract showed a possible cytoprotective effect over the concentrations tested by a significant decrease in LDH leakage in comparison to the untreated control (***p < 0.001). The positive effect on viability and proliferation at 0.1 and 1 µg/mL suggests the absence of toxicity, but a decrease in metabolic activity and proliferation of the cells at higher concentrations could indicate a dose dependent cytotoxic effect.

References:

[1] Koffi K. et al. BMC Complement Altern Med 2013; 13: 149.