In Vitro Cytotoxic Effect of Rodgersia Sambucifolia (Hemsl) in the Treatment of Leukemia

Gan Mei Wann, Anbu Jeba Sunilson John Samuel, Anandarajagopal Kalusalingam, Anita Gnana Kumari Anpumoni Vimala

Rodgersia sambucifolia (Hemsl) commonly known as rhizome of Featherleaf, Rodgers flower is one of the Chinese traditional medicinal plants in cancer therapy. The powder of R. sambucifolia rhizome was traditionally used by Chinese traditional healer for the treatment of leukemia and throat cancer. However, no scientific research has been carried out about this traditional claim. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential cytotoxic effect of this plant rhizome extract against human T4 lymphoblastoid cell lines (CEMss). Among the ethanol and water extracts of R. sambucifolia, the ethanolic extract showed a significant (P<0.01) anti-proliferative effect which was followed by water extract at a concentration of 3.0 and 10.8 µg/ml subsequently. The ethanol and water extract of the R. sambucifolia reveals the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates and glycosides, tannins and phenolic compounds, flavones and flavonoids and the absence of proteins and amino acids, sterols, fixed oils and fats. The present study opens and new stand point to validate R. sambucifolia extracts as one of the cytotoxic drugs for cancer therapy based on the traditional claim.