Jacob O.  Popoola, Ehi F.  Okosodo, Olayemi O.  Ayepola, Olugbenga S.  Taiwo, Abiodun H.  Adebayo, 
    Studies on Local Knowledge and <i>In vitro</i> Cytotoxicity of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.,
<i>Andrographis paniculata</i> N. and <i>Asystasia vogeliana</i> B. Extracts,
    Research Journal of Applied Sciences,
    Volume 12,Issue 2,
    2017,
    Pages 180-190,
    ISSN 1815-932x,
    rjasci.2017.180.190,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjasci.2017.180.190)
    Abstract: Multi-Purpose Medicinal Plants (MMPs) are gaining unprecedented attention apparently because
of their potency to contribute to the prevention and treatment of myriads of diseases. As such the toxicity of
many herbs including the MMPs has always been a concern particularly relating to internal organs. The present
study investigates the local knowledge use and <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines; BGC-823 and
HeLa cells on three (MMPs); <i>Moringa oleifera</i> (Lam) (Moringaceae) <i>Andrographis paniculata</i> (Burm. f) and
<i>Asystasia vogeliana</i> (Benth) (Acanthaceae). The local knowledge was collated through Participatory Rural
Appraisal (PRA) approach from selected locations in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Ethanolic extracts
were used for the <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity study. The extracts were screened in two cancer cell lines (BGC-823 and
HeLa cells) using the Sulpho Rhodamine B (SRB) assay. For the treatment of diseases, the local knowledge
shows that <i>A. paniculata</i> recorded higher fidelity level on the treatment of malaria (95%), diabetes (80%), high
blood pressure (87.5%), cancer and tumor (65.7%). The infusion of <i>A. vogeliana</i> in combination with the leaves
of <i>Cassia alata, Cymbopogon citrutus</i> and fruit juice of <i>Citrus aurantifolia</i> recorded higher fidelity level in
the treatment of malaria and chronic fever (74.8%), gonorrhea (65%) and leprosy (40%) suggesting better
alternative to <i>M. oleifera</i> and <i>A. paniculata</i>. The medicinal relevance of the species in the treatment of diseases
such as malaria, fever, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes among others in local herbal medicine were
revealed. Cytotoxicity assay on the two cell lines, BGC-823 and HeLa cells revealed that only the ethanolic
extract of <i>A. paniculata</i> exhibited some level (moderate) of cytotoxic activity with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 24.7 50
and 23.1 &mu;g/mL, respectively. <i>M. oleifera</i> and <i>A. vogeliana</i> did not show any significant activity on the cell
lines. The study highlights the importance of local knowledge in finding cost effective, potent and safe herbs
for people and screening of the plant species for their activities against cancer cell lines.
    Keywords: Asystasia vogeliana (Av);Andrographis paniculata (Ap);Moringa oleifera (Mo);cytotoxicity assays;BGC-823;HeLa cells