In vitro Anti-Inflammation and Selective Cytotoxicity of Vero and HepG2 Cells by Phenolic Extract From Roots of Hermannia Geniculata Eckl and Zehl

Anti-inflammatory and in vitro cytotoxic effect of phenols of Hermannia geniculata (PoHG) on Vero and HepG2 cells was carried out using Soybean lipoxygenase and MTT assays. PoHG extract exhibited a commendable inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase enzyme with IC50 value of (150 ± 0.03) µg/mL which is similar to the IC50: (110± 0.01) µg/mL of the standard (indomethacin). However, the extract was non-toxic to Vero cells with LC50 value >1.00 mg/mL but highly toxic to HepG2 cells (LC50: 0.05 mg/mL). A decrease viability of HepG2 cells was observed with increase in the concentration of the extract. There was less than 5% viable HepG2 cells at PoHG concentration of 750 µg/mL. The selectivity index of (20.00 and 33.33) was recorded for PoHG extract and doxorubicin respectively. The anti-inflammatory activities of PoHG suggested that the phenols extract may be useful in the management of inflammatory diseases like artheriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. It is also safe for use while its antiproliferative activities can be exploited in search for anticancer agents.