In vitro antitubercular, anticancer activities and IL-10 expression in HCT-116 cells of Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. leaves extract.

Considering the importance of Tinospora sinensis in folklore as immunomodulant, the leaves subjected to cold maceration using ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane and then screened for their antitubercular, anticancer and IL-10 expression (HCT-116) properties using luciferase reporter phage, MTT and flow cytometry assay methods, respectively. The results revealed that ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts demonstrated the promising (p < 0.05) antitubercular activity with inhibition (%) of 92% and 86%, at 100 µg/ml, respectively and the respective IC₅₀ values of 63.99 and 113.7 µg/ml on HeLa and HCT-166 cells. The n-hexane extract demonstrated the significant (p < 0.05) IL-10 expression (44.12 MFU) in HCT-116 cells against the control cells (8.48 MFU). The GC-MS analyses of n-hexane extract showed presence of tembatarine, berberine, cordifoliside E, and magnoflorine as major constituents. Among all extracts, n-hexane leaf extract was found to be potent against inhibition of colon cancer cells (HCT-116) and Mycobacteria, with significant immunostimulant activity.