Evaluation of Anticancer, Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Ethanolic Extract of Lepidium draba Linn. Leaves

For the past decades, Lepidium Draba L. was used as one of the traditional medicine against various ailments in Iraq. But the scientific basis for such uses remains largely random. Therefore, the present study applied leaf extract of L. draba to evaluate scientifically its anticancer, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The in vitro anticancer procedures were performed against human cancer cell lines (HeLa) by using different concentrations of L. draba extract that were 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 μg/ml with an incubation period of 24, 48 and 72 hours for each. The analgesic activity was evaluated by both hot plate test and formalin test in Swiss Albino mice at the doses 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg /kg body weight and compared with Aspirin (100 mg/kg body weight) as standard drug. The extract was also investigated for its anti-inflammatory activity at the same above mentioned doses using carrageenan induced mice paw edema method. The results revealed the clear cytotoxic activity of L. draba extract on the growth of HeLa cancer cell line and the effect was concentration-dependent. The treatment with 1000 μg/ml after 72 hrs caused highest inhibition in the viability of HeLa cells (57.65%). The extract showed significant (P<0.05) increase in hot plate reaction time and suppressed the licking activity of both phases. In the formalin test also it caused significant decrease (P<0.05) in paw oedema compared to Aspirin. It can be concluded that L. draba extract has a significant anticancer, analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities.