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Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays

Received: 22 October 2017     Accepted: 6 November 2017     Published: 13 December 2017
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Abstract

The use of herbal plants in Cameroonian ethno-medicine has been gained some importance in the treatment of various illnesses and many studies on these plants well documented. Hundreds of plant species, and their extracts, are used in developing countries to treat numerous diseases despite the fact that only a small number are approved for therapeutic use by the FDA. For instance, some species of the Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica genus have been used in the treatment of infectious diseases, abdominal pain and as anti-inflammatory agents. However, the cytotoxic effects of these plants have not been studied in detail, nor have their molecular structures been identified. The study objective was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of these medicinal plants using both MTT and neutral red assays. This was experimental analytical studies conducted with two herbal plants identified by the national herbarium centre for authentication. To determine the cytotoxic effects of the plant species, Hep G2 cells were exposed to extracts taken from plant species at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml and the cytotoxic effects determined using both MTT and Neutral Red assays. Using both MTT and Neutral Red assays, the cytotoxicity of each plant species was determined. Cells treated with all other extracts of the plant species, cytotoxic effects were observed in at least one concentration tested. Results obtained for the MTT assay for cells treated with various concentrations of the methanol crude extract of the leaf of T. rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica showed a significant difference between control samples and those treated with 1µg/ml, 10µg/ml and 100µg/ml of sample. In addition, significant differences were observed between samples treated with 0.1µg/ml and 10µg/ml and 100µg/ml of sample. Results obtained for the neutral red assay for this species showed no significant difference in absorbance levels between control samples, and those treated with any concentration of the plant extract tested. However, significant differences were detected for this species in the neutral red assay between samples treated with 0.1µg/ml of extract and 10µg/ml extract, in addition to significant differences being detected in samples treated with 0.1µg/ml and 100µg/ml of extract. Other plant species tested during this study may not be suitable for use in medicine because of their potential cytotoxic effects.

Published in Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants (Volume 3, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11
Page(s) 97-103
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cytotoxicity, MTT, NR, Dorstenia, Triumfetta

References
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[2] Fokunang CN, Ndikum V, Tabi OY, Jiofack, R. B, Ngameni B, Guedje N. M, Tembe-Fokunang, E. A, Tomkins P, Barkwan S, Kechia, F, Asongalem E, Ngoupayou J, Torimiro, NJ, Gonsu KH1, Sielinou V, Ngadjui BT, Angwafor III F, Nkongmeneck A, Abena OM, Ngogang J, Asonganyi T, Colizzi V., Lohoue J, Kamsu-Kom. Traditional Medicine: Past, Present And Future Research And Development Prospects And Integration In The National Health System Of Cameroon. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2011) 8(3):284-295 284.
[3] KamguiaGuifo HF, Fokunang CN, Ngameni B, Njinkio NBTembe-Fokunang EA. Effet Cytoprotecteur De L’extrait Aqueux Des Racines De Dorstenia Psilurus Sur L’ulcere Gastrique Chez Les Rats Males De La Souche Wistar. Health Sci. Dis 2011: Vol 12 (4) 195-206.
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  • APA Style

    Tembe-Fokunang Estella, Fokunang Charles, Hoare Gary, Salwa Barkwan, Ngameni Bathelemy, et al. (2017). Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays. Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants, 3(6), 97-103. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11

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    ACS Style

    Tembe-Fokunang Estella; Fokunang Charles; Hoare Gary; Salwa Barkwan; Ngameni Bathelemy, et al. Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays. J. Dis. Med. Plants 2017, 3(6), 97-103. doi: 10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11

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    AMA Style

    Tembe-Fokunang Estella, Fokunang Charles, Hoare Gary, Salwa Barkwan, Ngameni Bathelemy, et al. Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays. J Dis Med Plants. 2017;3(6):97-103. doi: 10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11,
      author = {Tembe-Fokunang Estella and Fokunang Charles and Hoare Gary and Salwa Barkwan and Ngameni Bathelemy and Tsague Marthe and Paul Tomkins and Nwabo Kamdje Armel Herve and Ngadjui Bonaventure},
      title = {Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays},
      journal = {Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6},
      pages = {97-103},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jdmp.20170306.11},
      abstract = {The use of herbal plants in Cameroonian ethno-medicine has been gained some importance in the treatment of various illnesses and many studies on these plants well documented. Hundreds of plant species, and their extracts, are used in developing countries to treat numerous diseases despite the fact that only a small number are approved for therapeutic use by the FDA. For instance, some species of the Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica genus have been used in the treatment of infectious diseases, abdominal pain and as anti-inflammatory agents. However, the cytotoxic effects of these plants have not been studied in detail, nor have their molecular structures been identified. The study objective was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of these medicinal plants using both MTT and neutral red assays. This was experimental analytical studies conducted with two herbal plants identified by the national herbarium centre for authentication. To determine the cytotoxic effects of the plant species, Hep G2 cells were exposed to extracts taken from plant species at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml and the cytotoxic effects determined using both MTT and Neutral Red assays. Using both MTT and Neutral Red assays, the cytotoxicity of each plant species was determined. Cells treated with all other extracts of the plant species, cytotoxic effects were observed in at least one concentration tested. Results obtained for the MTT assay for cells treated with various concentrations of the methanol crude extract of the leaf of T. rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica showed a significant difference between control samples and those treated with 1µg/ml, 10µg/ml and 100µg/ml of sample. In addition, significant differences were observed between samples treated with 0.1µg/ml and 10µg/ml and 100µg/ml of sample. Results obtained for the neutral red assay for this species showed no significant difference in absorbance levels between control samples, and those treated with any concentration of the plant extract tested. However, significant differences were detected for this species in the neutral red assay between samples treated with 0.1µg/ml of extract and 10µg/ml extract, in addition to significant differences being detected in samples treated with 0.1µg/ml and 100µg/ml of extract. Other plant species tested during this study may not be suitable for use in medicine because of their potential cytotoxic effects.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays
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    AU  - Fokunang Charles
    AU  - Hoare Gary
    AU  - Salwa Barkwan
    AU  - Ngameni Bathelemy
    AU  - Tsague Marthe
    AU  - Paul Tomkins
    AU  - Nwabo Kamdje Armel Herve
    AU  - Ngadjui Bonaventure
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.jdmp.20170306.11
    T2  - Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants
    JF  - Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants
    JO  - Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    AB  - The use of herbal plants in Cameroonian ethno-medicine has been gained some importance in the treatment of various illnesses and many studies on these plants well documented. Hundreds of plant species, and their extracts, are used in developing countries to treat numerous diseases despite the fact that only a small number are approved for therapeutic use by the FDA. For instance, some species of the Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica genus have been used in the treatment of infectious diseases, abdominal pain and as anti-inflammatory agents. However, the cytotoxic effects of these plants have not been studied in detail, nor have their molecular structures been identified. The study objective was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of these medicinal plants using both MTT and neutral red assays. This was experimental analytical studies conducted with two herbal plants identified by the national herbarium centre for authentication. To determine the cytotoxic effects of the plant species, Hep G2 cells were exposed to extracts taken from plant species at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml and the cytotoxic effects determined using both MTT and Neutral Red assays. Using both MTT and Neutral Red assays, the cytotoxicity of each plant species was determined. Cells treated with all other extracts of the plant species, cytotoxic effects were observed in at least one concentration tested. Results obtained for the MTT assay for cells treated with various concentrations of the methanol crude extract of the leaf of T. rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica showed a significant difference between control samples and those treated with 1µg/ml, 10µg/ml and 100µg/ml of sample. In addition, significant differences were observed between samples treated with 0.1µg/ml and 10µg/ml and 100µg/ml of sample. Results obtained for the neutral red assay for this species showed no significant difference in absorbance levels between control samples, and those treated with any concentration of the plant extract tested. However, significant differences were detected for this species in the neutral red assay between samples treated with 0.1µg/ml of extract and 10µg/ml extract, in addition to significant differences being detected in samples treated with 0.1µg/ml and 100µg/ml of extract. Other plant species tested during this study may not be suitable for use in medicine because of their potential cytotoxic effects.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Traditional Pharmacopoeia, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

  • Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Traditional Pharmacopoeia, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

  • Centre for Biopolymer and Bio-molecular Research, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Republic of Ireland

  • Centre for Biopolymer and Bio-molecular Research, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Republic of Ireland

  • Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Traditional Pharmacopoeia, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

  • Department of Biomedical Science, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Centre for Biopolymer and Bio-molecular Research, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Republic of Ireland

  • Department of Biomedical Science, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Centre for Biopolymer and Bio-molecular Research, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Republic of Ireland

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