Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_26
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565650

Cytotoxicity of two medicinal plants commonly used in the management of diabetes in Eastern Cape South Africa using Chang liver cell lines

SW Odeyemi 1, 2, T Koekemoer 3, M van de Venter 3, AJ Afolayan 2, G Bradley 1
  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
  • 2MPED Research Niche Area, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
  • 3Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Albuca bracteata and Albuca setosa are two of the commonly used medicinal plants by traditional healers in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. These plants have been reportedly used for the management of diabetes, ulcer, wounds and inflammation. However, there are few reports on the toxicity of these plants. This study therefore, investigates the cytotoxicity of the two plants.

The aqueous, methanolic and acetonic extractions were evaluated in Chang liver cells for cytotoxicity using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and crystal violet assays. Different concentrations of the extracts were added into 24h cultured cells and incubated for 72h at 37 °C and 5% CO2. These were compared with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) as standards. The cell proliferation was then accessed in MRHF and INS-1 cells incubated for 72h at 37 °C and 5% CO2 by comparing the extract treated cells with the untreated cells while the percentage cell viability was compared to the controls.

The aqueous extracts of Albuca setosa and Albuca bracteata enhanced cell proliferation and were considered relatively not cytotoxic in both MTT and crystal violet when compared with NDGA and DNP. Albuca bracteata acetonic extract was the most toxic while Albuca bracteata methanolic extract, Albuca setosa acetonic and methanolic extracts all showed weak toxicity compared with the controls in the MTT and crystal violet assays.

These findings showed that the aqueous extracts of these plants are not cytotoxic supporting their folkloric usage. However, the cell proliferation property of these plants raises serious concern suggesting that they be used with caution.