Full Length Research Paper

Platelet aggregation, antiglycation, cytotoxic, phytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of extracts of Nepeta juncea

Javid Hussain¹*, Nargis Jamila¹, Syed Abdullah Gilani², Ghulam Abbas⁴ and Sagheer Ahmed³

¹Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.

²Department of Botany, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.

³Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research International Center for Chemical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

⁴International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ RIC, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: javidhej@yahoo.com. Tel: (+92)-0922- 554565. Fax: (+92)-922-554556.

Accepted 23 September, 2008

Various subsequent fractions of Nepeta juncea were subjected to test against platelet aggregation, antiglycation, cytoxicity, phytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities. Methanolic extract inhibited arachidonic acid (AA) induced platelet aggregation (IC₅₀ 35 ug/ml) and platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation (IC₅₀ 38 µg/ml) in a dose dependant fashion. In case of antiglycation bioassay, n-hexane fraction showed highest inhibitory activity (74.3%), followed by chloroform (72.4%) and water fractions (64.7%). The order of toxicity for brine shrimps was water > chloroform > n-hexane > N-butanol. Except n-hexane fraction (70% inhibition) at higher concentration (1000 ug/ml), n-butanol, chloroform and water fractions exhibited non-significant phytotoxic activity at even highest dose against Lemna minor. No significant inhibitory effect of these fractions could be observed against these bacteria and fungi except, n-butanol fraction against Bacillus subtilis (27.0%), Shigella flexneri (30.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus (42.3%). The chloroform fraction showed 25% antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi only. Each fraction might have variable effects in different bioassays.

Key words: Nepeta juncea, Lamiaceae, Labiatae, allelopathy, anti-cancer, medicinal plant, biological activity.