Lai et al. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010, 10:15
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/10/15
Open Access
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Research article
Blechnum Orientale Linn - a fern with potential as
antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial agent
How Y Lai1, Yau Y Lim*1 and Kah H Kim2
Abstract
Background: Blechnum orientale Linn. (Blechnaceae) is used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various skin
diseases, stomach pain, urinary bladder complaints and sterilization of women. The aim of the study was to evaluate
antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial activity of five solvent fractions obtained from the methanol extract of the
leaves of Blechnum orientale Linn.
Methods: Five solvent fractions were obtained from the methanol extract of B. orientale through successive
partitioning with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water. Total phenolic content was assessed
using Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the scavenging activity of
DPPH radicals. Cytotoxic activity was tested against four cancer cell lines and a non-malignant cell using MTT assay.
Antibacterial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Standard phytochemical
screening tests for saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids were also conducted.
Results: The ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions possessed strong radical scavenging activity (IC50 8.6-13.0 ?g/
ml) and cytotoxic activity towards human colon cancer cell HT-29 (IC50 27.5-42.8 ?g/ml). The three extracts were also
effective against all Gram-positive bacteria tested: Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Stapylococcus
epidermidis(minimum inhibitory concentration MIC 15.6-250 ?g/ml; minimum bactericidal concentration MBC 15.6-250
?g/ml). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids and tannins. Ethyl acetate and butanol
f