In vitro anti-inflammatory and comparative cytotoxicity studies on methanolic extract of Enicostemma hyssopifolium

Enicostemma hyssopifolium is a perineal herb widely used as an antidiabetic agent in folklore medicine. The present work was focused on the assessment of its anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. Its methanolic extract was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using murine monocytic macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, and screened for its cytotoxic property in different cancer cell lines. The methanolic extract was able to potentially inhibit the bacterial lipopolysaccharides-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. Results of the cytotoxicity studies revealed that the methanolic extract effectively induced the cytotoxicity at considerably lower concentration in MCF-7, A-549, and COLO-205 cell lines, while the viability of HeLa, CasKi, and HT-29 cells were inhibited at comparatively higher concentrations. Results thus indicated that E. hyssopifolium possessed potent anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. This necessitates further exploration of bioactive phytochemical compounds responsible for these properties for therapeutic applications.