Phytochemical, Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory Analysis of an Indian Blackberry Rubus fruticosus

The present study was carried out for cytotoxic potential, immunomodulatory response, antioxidant potential and phytochemical analysis of Rubus fruticosus (leaf and fruits). In vitro cytotoxicity of methanolic extract of fruit possess higher activity than the leaf part against lung (A549) cancer cell line with 72% growth inhibition at 100 μg/mL concentration. Similarly, when administered orally at 100 mg/kg p.o., fruit (crude extract) showed an increase of 130 % activity in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and 79 % activity in humoral antibody response in immune suppressed Balb/c mice. On fractionation of the methanolic fruit extract, the acetone fraction of fruit showed remarkable antioxidant potential. Phytochemical analysis of acetone fraction showed the presence of higher content of phenols (290.81 mg GAEs/g dry weight) and flavonoids (50 ± 0.12 mg QEs/g dry wt). Further, HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of cyanidin and ellagic acid in acetone fraction. The above results showed that the fruits of Rubus fruticosus as a very good source of
herbal preparation with its significant antioxidant potential, immunomodulation and cytotoxic effect, that can be further exploited in food and pharmaceutical industry.