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

T he medicinal plants are those which contain substances in their parts that can be used for therapeutic purpose or as a precursor for the synthesis of other useful medicines.In another speaking, these plants possess therapeutic properties or exert beneficial pharmacological effects on the animal body so they are generally designated as "Medicinal Plants".Although there were no apparent morphological characteristics in the medicinal plants growing with them, yet they possess some special qualities or virtues that make them medicinally important.It was well established that the plants which are naturally synthesize and accumulate some secondary metabolites, like alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, volatiles oils and contain minerals and vitamins, possess medicinal properties.Medicinal plants constitute an important natural wealth for many countries.They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to rural people.They serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for manufacturing both traditional and modern medicines.Substantial amount of foreign exchange can be earned by exporting medicinal plants to other countries.In this way indigenous medicinal plants play significant role of an economy of a country.Herbal medicine is relatively cheaper than orthodox medicine, as such it is widely accepted among the people and this could be due to the fact that tradomedical practices blend into the sociocultural life of the people.At present, focus on plant research is increased all over the world and large body of evidence has collected to show immense poten-research Article Abstract | 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.