LEEA INDICA AND VITEX TRIFOLIA: IN VITRO ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF LEAF EXTRACTS AND PHYTOCONSTITUENTS

Abstract

Leea indica (L. indica) and Vitex trifolia (V. trifolia) are medicinal plants well known for various medicinal purposes in traditional medicine. HPLC and GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of various phytochemicals in the leaves of these two plants. Of the phytoconstituents identified in L. indica and were tested for antiproliferative activities on ovarian cancer cells, gallic acid showed the most prominent antiproliferative activities. Certain combinations of gallic acid with methyl gallate synergistically inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer cells. The anti-inflammatory activities of L. indica leaf extracts and fractions are reported for the first time. Methyl gallate was found to be more effective in inhibiting TNF-α and IL-1β production compared to gallic acid. Other anti-inflammatory compounds in L. indica and V. trifolia were also identified. Our results provided a scientific basis for the traditional uses of the leaves of L. indica in cancer therapy and V. trifolia in treating inflammation.