Methanol and chloroform extracts from Lamium album L. Affect cell properties of A549 cancer lung cell line

Abstract

Lamium album L. (white dead nettle) is a plant widely used in official and folk medicine. It possess astringent, anti-inflammotary, antibiotic, antispasmotic, antioxidant and bacteriostatic properties and is used in bladder, kidney and menstrual problems. The spectrum of its therapeutic activity is related to a variety of biologically active substances. In present study we investigated potential effects on A549 cancer lung cell line of several concentrations and combinations of methanol and chloroform extracts from in vivo and in vitro propagated Lamium album L., obtained by Soxhlet extraction. MTT test for assessment of cell viability, test for cell attachment and FACSanalyses after 24 and 48 hours of cultivation were performed. After 24h and 48h of incubation, all extracts showed reduction in cell viability, accept methanol (below 2.5 mg/ml) and chloroform (0.5 mg/ml) extracts from in vivo plants. Strongest cytotoxic effect was observed when methanol extract (5.0 mg/ml) from in vivo cultivated plant was applied. All studied extracts decreased adhesion properties of the cells. The strongest effect showed methanol extract from in vivo plants with concentration 4.5mg/ml. FACS – analyses revealed retention of the cell cycle in G2 period for cells, cultivated in all extracts, while in the population of cells, cultivated in the combination of extracts and in the chloroform extract from in vitro propagated plants of L. album L., small amount of apoptotic cells was observed. Extracts from in vivo cultivated plants were more active then those, from in vitro propagated. We consider that Lamium album L. extracts possess potential anti-cancer effects that need to be investigated in more details.