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Hypericum japonicum: a Double-Headed Sword to Combat Vector Control and Cancer

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Abstract

Mosquito control with naturally derived herbal insecticides has gained much momentum, with the increased insecticide resistance of vectors and the multiple infectious diseases spread by them. Yet, recent studies also suggest that mosquitoes could probably transmit some cancerous cells or cancer-causing viruses from one individual to another between their blood meals. The current research thus focused on the screening and characterization of novel plants with both mosquitocidal and anticancerous properties. Accordingly, different solvent extracts of Hypericum japonicum, a key plant in Chinese medicine, were screened for its larvicidal efficacy using the fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (major vector of Dengue and chikungunya). Methanolic extracts of the plant showed effective larvicidal property with LC50 7.37 ppm and LC9011.59 ppm values. The anticancerous property of the plant extract was also evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity assay against Daltons Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells. The results indicated that H. japonicum plant extracts at very low concentrations of LC500.95 ppm and LC901.85 ppm were potent cytotoxic agents. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and the foremost report of Hypericum japonicum as a potent mosquitocidal and anticancerous agent. Identification and characterization of such plant-derived bioactive plants thus could serve as a double-headed sword against the spread of infectious diseases and cancer.

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Abbreviations

A. aegypti :

Aedes aegypti

LCL:

Lower confidence limit

UCL:

Upper confidence limit

LD:

Lethal Dose

DLA:

Daltons Lymphoma Ascites cells

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Principal of St. Joseph’s College for the laboratory facilities provided. We acknowledge UGC, Govt. of India, and Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) for funds under Major Research Project (No. 27/SRSLS/2013/CSTE).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Communicable Disease Research Laboratory, St. Joseph’s College, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, India

    Sreedev Puthur, A. N Anoopkumar & Sharrel Rebello

  2. Department of Zoology, St.Joseph’s College, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, 680121, India

    Embalil Mathachan Aneesh

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  1. Sreedev Puthur
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  2. A. N Anoopkumar
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Correspondence to Embalil Mathachan Aneesh.

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Puthur, S., Anoopkumar, A.N., Rebello, S. et al. Hypericum japonicum: a Double-Headed Sword to Combat Vector Control and Cancer. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 186, 1–11 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-018-2713-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-018-2713-7

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