Cytotoxic effects of the ethanolic extract from Benjakul formula and its compounds on human lung cancer cells

Benjakul have also been used for cancer therapy by folk medicine. The ethanolic extracts, five fractions and three pure compounds from Benjakul were investigated for cytotoxic activities against two types of human lung cancer cell lines (COR-L23 and A549) and one normal human lung myofibroblasts (MRC-5). The cytotoxic activities of the BEN-3 fraction which fractionated with vacuum liquid chromatography method by chloroform solvent showed stronger cytotoxic activities against COR-L23 and A549 cells than the ethanolic extracts and other fractions (IC50 values 28.09 and 34.43 μg/ml, respectively). Its pure compounds, plumbagin exhibited the greatest cytotoxic activity against COR-L23, A549 and MRC5 with IC50 values 0.36 , 0.59 and 2.17μg/ml, respectively Piperine and gingerol exhibited cytotoxic activities against CORL23 more than A549. In conclusion, all Benjakul extracts shown high cytotoxic activities against COR-L23 but less activities against other cells.