Investigation of biological activity of Lamii albi flos extracts.

Methanol, ethyl acetate and heptane extracts of Lamium album L. (Lamiaceae) were tested for the toxicity or ability to stimulate growth of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) in vitro. The biological effect depended on the HSF cells density and on the kind and concentration of extract that was used. At a density of 1x10(5) HSF cells/mL no cytotoxicity of extracts was observed during 24 h of incubation. During 24-72 h of incubation with a low (2x10(4) HSF cells/mL) density of cells, significant cytotoxicity was observed for methanol and ethyl acetate extracts at concentrations greater than 125 microg/mL. At concentration of 25 microg/mL the cells remained intact. However, when the cells were incubated with the heptane extract, there was observed relative high viability (>60%) of cells and significant, gradually increasing in time, cellular mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, measured by MTT assay. Stimulation of human skin fibroblasts proliferation by the heptane extract of Lamii albi flos may indicate for its usefulness of wound healing in vivo and probability of perspectives its use in designing new medicinal plant preparations. In order to determine the biologically active compounds, the plant extracts were separated by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) on silica gel Si 60 F(254) combined with densitometry. Phenolic acids were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).