Pluchea indica (L.) Less. is a shrub of the family Compositae and is widespread along the western coast in Taiwan. Previous studies indicated that the components of Pluchea indica have potent anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antimicrobial activities. In the present study, the effects of aqueous extract of roots and leaves from P. indica on the cancer cell lines were investigated. Various experimental approaches including cell growth curves, MTT assay, MTS assay, focus formation assay and cell migration assay were performed on the aqueous extract-treated cancer cells. Our results demonstrate the aqueous extract of P. indica induced anti-proliferation activity on GBM8401 and HeLa cancer cell lines.

Typically chronic injury leads to hepatic fibrosis. No effective antifibrotic drugs have been approved, but herbal drugs have potential on the therapy of hepatic fibrosis. The objective of this study used TAA-induced liver fibrosis mouse as a model to elucidate whether aqueous extract of the root of Pluchea indica (PIAE) can reduce liver fibrosis triggered by TAA. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with TAA (200 mg/Kg) three times per week as the TAA group, and those of injected with PIAE once per week as the treatment group. Three PIAE dosages of low- (0.5 mg/ml), medium- (1.0 mg/ml), and high- (1.5 mg/ml) doses were applied. Control mice were intraperitoneally injected with phosphate-buffered saline (2 ml/Kg) three times per week. Mice were sacrificed after 4 or 8 week treatment. Mice serum glutamyl pyruvic transaminases (GPT) were increased in the TAA group while the treatment group effects were declined after 4 or 8 weeks. H&E, Reticular fiber, and Sirius red staining revealed that TAA induced liver fibrosis and fibrotic lesions were reduced by PIAE treatment. Hydroxyproline assay showed that TAA increased collagen contents and PIAE significantly decreased collagen contents after 4 or 8 weeks. Collagen £\1 and £\-SMA mRNA levels were decreased after 4- or 8- week PIAE treatments. The protein levels of ED2, £\-SMA, p53, and phospho-p53 were all significantly declined on 4 or 8 weeks after PIAE treatment. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the aqueous extract of P. indica shows anti-fibrotic effects on fibrogenesis of mouse liver.