ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Lamium Album Extracts Express Free Radical
Scavenging and Cytotoxic Activities
R. Paduch1, G. Matysik2, M. Wójciak–Kosior2, M. Kandefer–Szerszeń1,
A. Skalska–Kamińska2, M. Nowak–Kryska2, P. Niedziela3
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1 Department of Virology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology,
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
2 Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Planar Chromatography, Medical University,
Staszica 6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
3 Stationary care facility, Kolejowy Hospital, Department of Surgery,
Kruczkowskiego 21, 20-468 Lublin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2008;17(4):569-580
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Lamium album, commonly known as “white dead nettle,” is a perennial herb widely used in folk medicine.
The present paper presents the toxic, anti-proliferative, and free radical (DPPH•) scavenging activities of
methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of that plant. In order to determine the biologically active compounds, the
plant extracts were separated by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) on silica gel Si 60 F254
and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with densitometry. Methanol extract was rich
mainly with flavonoids and phenolic acids. Ethyl acetate extract contained mainly triterpenes.
Both extracts showed no toxic effects against normal human skin fibroblasts (HSF) in the range of
applied concentrations (25–225 µg/ml). Anti-proliferative activity revealed that methanol extract expressed
lower inhibitory properties than ethyl acetate one. The MTT test was, however, less sensitive than Neutral Red
(NR) assay. Ethyl acetate extract did not exhibit DPPH• radical scavenging activity. Methanol extract reduced
the radical of about 29% at the highest applied concentration (225 µg/ml). Both extracts slightly influenced
cellular cytoskeleton organization and amount, and size of agyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR)
protein deposits.
These findings suggest that extracts of Lamium album exhibit potential usefulness in preparation of new
natural formulations.