In vitro antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activities of plant extracts from Spathodea campanulata, Ficus bubu, and Carica papaya.

Pharm Biol. 2016;54(6):1086-95. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1103273. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

Mbosso Teinkela JE^1,2,3, Assob Nguedia JC⁴, Meyer F², Vouffo Donfack E⁵, Lenta Ndjakou B⁶, Ngouela S⁵, Tsamo E⁵, Adiogo D¹, Guy Blaise Azebaze A³, Wintjens R².

Author information

• ¹a Département Des Sciences Biologiques, Faculté De Médecine Et Des Sciences Pharmaceutiques (FMSP) , Université De Douala , Douala , Cameroun ;
• ²b Laboratory of Biopolymers and Supramolecular Nanomaterials, Faculté De Pharmacie , Université Libre De Bruxelles (ULB) , Campus Plaine (CP 206/4), Boulevard Du Triomphe , Brussels , Belgium ;
• ³c Laboratoire De Chimie Bio-Organique, Analytique Et Structurale, Département De Chimie, Faculté Des Sciences , Université De Douala , Douala , Cameroun ;
• ⁴d Programme in Medicine, Faculty of Health Science , University of Buea , Buea , SW Province , Cameroon ;
• ⁵e Laboratoire De Substances Naturelles Et Synthèse Organique, Département De Chimie Organique, Faculté Des Sciences , Université De Yaoundé I , Yaoundé , Cameroun ;
• ⁶f Department of Chemistry, Higher Teachers' Training College , University of Yaoundé 1 , P.O. Box 47 , Yaoundé , Cameroun.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

African medicinal plants represent a prominent source of new active substances. In this context, three plants were selected for biological investigations based on their traditional uses.

OBJECTIVE:

The antimicrobial and anti-proliferative features of three plants used for medicinal purpose were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of Ficus bubu Warb. (Moraceae) stem bark and leaves, of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) flowers, as well as those of Carica papaya Linn. (Caricaceae) latex, were determined using the microbroth dilution method against a set of bacteria and fungi pathogens including: Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. saprophyticus, S. epidermididis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella typhimurium, Candida albicans, and Trichophyton rubrum. The tested concentrations of extracts ranged from 2500.0 to 2.4 μg/mL and MIC values were evaluated after 24 h incubation at 37 °C. Subsequently, MTT assay was used to estimate anti-proliferative activity of these methanol extracts and of F. bubu latex on three human cancer cell lines (U373 glioblastoma, A549 NSCLC, and SKMEL-28 melanoma).

RESULTS:

The methanol extract of F. bubu stem bark exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against C. albicans with a MIC value of 9.8 μg/mL, while the F. bubu latex and the methanol extract of F. bubu leaves induced significant anti-proliferative activity against lung (IC50 values of 10 and 14 μg/mL, respectively) and glioma (IC50 values of 13 and 16 μg/mL, respectively) cancer cells.

CONCLUSION:

These results indicate that effective drugs could be derived from the three studied plants.

KEYWORDS:

Bioactivity; cancer; latex; medicinal plants