Abstract Book - 3rd International Symposium on Medicinal Plants ...

1.84 Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Terminalia ferdinandiana
(Kakadu Plum)
Sirdaarta J.P., and Cock I.E.
Environmental Futures Centre & b Biomolecular and Physical Science, Griffith University, Brisbane,
QLD.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell, Combretaceae) is an Australian native
plant endemic to the tropical northern regions of Australia. It is known for its extremely high
ascorbic acid and antioxidant content. Previous studies indicated that Kakadu plum may have
medicinal potential in the treatment of various diseases. This study aimed to investigate its
potential to quell free radicals and its role as an anticancer agent. Dehydrated Kakadu plum fruit
were extracted with a variety of solvents and the extracts were dried and resuspended as aqueous
solutions. The extracts were tested for their antioxidative potential in established assays. The
extracts were also tested in vitro for anticancer activity by exposing a variety of cancer cells and
normal cell lines to the extracts and noting cell viability and cell death. Kakadu Plum extracts
exhibited substantial anti-oxidative activity, reducing power, superoxide anion scavenging
potential, DPPH radical scavenging activity and ability to limit lipid peroxidation in antioxidant
assays. Subsequent trials of Kakadu plum extracts against normal cell lines (Hs 738.St/Int, CCD-
18Co ect.) and cancer cell lines (AGS, HT-29, HL-60 etc.) were attempted to confirm previous
studies. Positive results were noted against all cancer cell lines, yet the normal cells were largely
unaffected. The extracts were also tested against a wider panel of cancer cell lines, exhibiting
anticancer activity against most cancer cell lines tested. Equally important, the Kakadu plum
extracts did not inhibit the viability of any normal cell line tested. Kakadu plum extracts show
promise in the treatment of a variety of different types of cancer, yet are non-toxic towards normal
cell lines.
Key words: Australia, cancer cell, extracts, free radicals, Kakadu Plum.
1.85 Biological evaluation of Orchids of Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats’s, India
Senthilkumar Subburaman
Dept. of Botany, St.Joseph's College (Autonomous),Tiruchirappalli-620002,INDIA
<strong>Abstract</strong>: The Kolli hills, a part of Eastern Ghats of India are a treasure of medicinal plants. An
attempt is made to gather information about the traditional usage of orchids from the local healers.
A diversity of orchid flora is being used to treat especially for UT infections. Different parts (leaf,
Pulb and root) are collected in two seasons (summer and winter) of about 20 orchid species and
their photochemical present in them are analysed. Leaf is found to be the potential source for most
of the phytochemicals and used as study material for the various solvent extracts (methanol,
ethanol, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, benzene and hexane) is screened for both summer
and winter samples. Of the 35 organisms studied viz.Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
foecalis, Bacillus cereus, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella
pneumonia, Shigella dysenteriae, E.coli, Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum fulvum, Candida
albicans and Trichophyton rubrum are found to be more sensitive against Acanthephippium bicolor
leaf extracts. The gram negative bacteria are found to be more sensitive than negative bacteria
and selected fungi. The inhibition is found to be more in methanol extract. The summer and winter
samples were compared for their antimicrobial efficacy shows no significant difference. The results
proves that there is no impact of season on antibacterial activity of the orchids studied and
Acanthephippium bicolor would be the best herbal species could be used for UT infection can be
used throughout the year as no seasonal impact. Our studies showed that ethnomedicinal orchid
species used by the traditional healers are under serious threat due to several factors, which
indicates the need for their conservation and sustainable utilization.
Key words: Biological evaluation, eastern ghats‟s, kolli hills, orchids.
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