In vitro screening of Australian traditional medicinal plants for activity against cancer cell lines

Abstract

We have studied the effects of extracts of various arid zone Eremophila species native to Australia as well as several other native plant species that have played an important role in the pharmacopoeia of Australian aboriginal people. Recent studies have identified Eremophila spp as potential antibacterial and antiviral agents by the current literature has little information concerning anticancer activity. Plant extracts were tested for activity against three common cancer cell lines: ovarian cancer cells C180-13S, prostate cancer cells DU 145 and human melanoma cells MM96L. Activity against these cancer cell lines was compared to cytotoxicity against primary untransformed human foreskin fibroblasts NFF. Ethanolic plant extracts were applied in serial dilution to microtitre 96 well plates seeded with 5000 cells/well. After six days of incubation the Sulfuorhodamine B cell growth assay was performed. Although all plant extracts exhibited substantial general cytotoxicity, an extract of 'Eremophila duttonnii' exhibited 26 times higher activity against cancer cell lines as compared to normal cells.