Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of
Centella asiatica
aqueous extract in augmenting the
cytotoxic effect of bleomycin in the adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cell line.
Methods: The inhibitory effect of bleomycin on A549 cells was determined by incubating the cells for 24
h in different concentrations of bleomycin. The effect of
C. asiatica extract on A549 cells was
determined after exposing cells to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 % (v/v) bleomycin diluted from an initial 10%
stock solution. Based on the 50 % inhibitory (IC
50) values of bleomycin, 80, 100, and 120 μg/mL
concentrations were tested with 15, 20, and 25 % (v/v) of
C. asiatica extract.
Results: IC
50 value of bleomycin on A549 cells was 100 μg/mL, and was reduced to 80 μg/mL when
cells were co-incubated with 20 % v/v of
C. asiatica extract. The results show that
C. asiatica extract
reduces the concentration of bleomycin necessary for inhibition of A459 cell growth (IC
50). While the
IC
50 value of bleomycin was 100 μg/ml, it fell to 80 μg/ml when used along with 20 % v/v CA extract (p <
5)
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that compounds extracted from
C. asiatica may have potential
for use as adjuvants in bleomycin cancer chemotherapy.
