Diverse biological activity of Odontioda Marie Noel 'Velano' extracts.

BACKGROUND

Several pharmacologically active substances have been isolated from orchid plants other than Odontioda Marie Noel 'Velano'. Whether or not MeOH extract fractions from O. Marie Noel 'Velano' bulbs exert various biological activities was investigated.

METHODS

The MeOH extract was stepwise separated by organic solvents into n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH and H(2)O layer fractions. Cytotoxic activity against human tumor and normal cells was determined by the MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) was determined by the Griess method. Osteoclastogenesis was monitored by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity.

RESULTS

The EtOAc fraction showed the highest tumor-specific cytotoxicity, followed by the n-hexane and other fractions. The EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions protected the cells from the cytotoxicity induced by UV irradiation. The EtOAc and n-hexane fractions inhibited NO production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage-like cells. The EtOAc fraction most strongly inhibited the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis, followed by the n-BuOH, n-hexane and H(2)O fractions.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the biological activities tested were concentrated in the EtOAc fraction, and separation from cytotoxic substances is needed to identify the active principle(s).