OBJECTIVE

Ocimum gratissimum is a herbal medicine and caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) is one of its main components. Caffeic acid is known to control the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce the activity of cancer cells, and enhance immunity in the human body. The amounts of caffeic acid in herbal medicine and vegetable oils have not been reported in the literature since an analytical method has not yet been established. In this study, we explored the effects of caffeic acid treatment on anti-proliferation in HeLa cells.

METHODS

This paper presents a method of extraction of caffeic acid from O. gratissimum and Ju ZenTa (Ocimum basilicum L.) using high performance liquid chromatography. Treatment of HeLa cells with the extracted caffeic acid (10 mM) was analyzed.

RESULTS

We showed that caffeic acid isolated from several kinds of vegetables and from the herb of O. gratissimum had anti-proliferative effects on cervical cancer cell lines. Caffeic acid can significantly reduce the proliferation of HeLa cells in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper shows that high performance liquid chromatography is a suitable analytical method for determining caffeic acid levels in O. gratissimum, Ju ZenTa, and several vegetable oils. Caffeic acid can suppress the proliferation of HeLa cells.