Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of the medicinal plant Primula macrophylla

Abstract

Primula macrophylla (Primulaceae) is reported as to be useful in asthma, restlessness, insomnia and fish poisoning. Antifungal and toxic activities of crude extract, fractions and a pure isolated compound exhibited statistically significant activities. Excellent antifungal activity was found in the crude extract, benzene and ethyl acetate fractions against T. longifusis and against M. canis with different MIC values. Antileishmanial activity (IC50 50ug/mL) was observed as compared to standard drug Amphotericin B, and cytotoxic activity (LD50 47.919μg/mL) was also found in the chloroform fraction. While pure compound 2-phenylchromone (Flavone) isolated from the chloroform fraction showed good activity (IC50 25μg/mL) against Leishmania and cytotoxicity (LD50 2.0116 μg/mL) in Brine Shrimp experiments. From antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity it can be concluded that 2-phenylchromone is the major compound responsible for these activities. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd.