Cytotoxic activity of Origanum dictamnus

Fitoterapia. 2007 Jul;78(5):342-4. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2007.02.005. Epub 2007 Apr 11.

Abstract

Several extracts of Origanum dictamnus, an endemic plant of Greece growing only in the island of Crete and the bioassay-directed isolated ursolic acid, were tested in vitro against the P388 (murine leukemia) and the human bronchial epidermoid cancer NSCLC-N6 (non small cell lung cancer) cell lines. Both the initial dichloromethane extract and the isolated from it ursolic acid exhibited cytotoxic activity. Ursolic acid was also tested in vivo, on murine ascite leukemia P388, where it exhibited at a dose of 50 mg/kg a marginal antileukemic activity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Origanum*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Components, Aerial
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Plant Extracts