Potential antitumor activity of two Polygonum species

Abstract

Two Bangladeshi Polygonum species, P. barbatum (L.) Hara var. barbata (common name ‘bekhanjabaj’) and P. stagninum Buch.-Ham. ex Meissn. (common name ‘ratooti sag’ or ‘bara bishkatali’), are perennial herbs of the family Polygonaceae. The genus Polygonum L. is well-known for its use in oriental traditional medicine systems for the treatment of various ailments including fever, pain, inflammation, infections, cancer and tumors. The extracts of P. barbatum var. barbata and P. stagninum were assessed for potential antitumor properties using the potato disc assay. All extracts showed a considerable level of potential antitumor activity. The petroleum ether extract of P. barbatum var. barbata and the n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of P. stagninum, having IC50 values of 290, 200 and 180 μg/disc, respectively, were the most active among the extracts. The methanol extracts of both plants were the least active and had an IC50 value of >400 μg/disc. Overall, the extracts of P. stagninum showed better antitumor activity potential than the extracts of P. barbatum var. barbata.

Keywords

• Polygonum barbatum var. barbata
• Polygonum stagninum
• Polygonaceae
• antitumor activity
• the potato disc assay