Feyza Oke-Altuntas

Phytochemical analysis, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of Chrozophora tinctoria: a natural dye plant

Abstract Context: Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A. Juss. (Euphorbiaceae) is known as ‘dyer’s-croton’ and used to obtain dye substances. Recently, natural antioxidants and colorants have been of interest because of their safety and therapeutic effects. Objective: This study investigates the antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of the various extracts and fractions from C. tinctoria and analyzes their phytochemical contents. Materials and methods: The aerial parts of C. tinctoria were extracted with water, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol/chloroform. Phenolic compounds and other constituents of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC/TOF-MS. The ethyl acetate extract (EA) was fractionated by flash chromatography. The extracts, fractions, and major phenolic compounds were investigated for their antiproliferative activities on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line at the concentrations of 5–100 μg/mL by using BrdU ELISA assay during 24 h of incubation. DPPH radical scavenging activities (5–150 μg/mL) and total phenolic contents of the samples were also evaluated. Results: 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (268.20 mg/kg), apigenin-7-glucoside (133.34 mg/kg), and gallic acid (68.92 mg/kg) were the major components of EA. CT/E-F6 (IC50 = 64.59 ± 0.01 μg/mL) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity. CT/E-F2 (IC50= 14.0 ± 0.0 μg/mL) and some fractions displayed higher radical scavenging activity compared to synthetic antioxidant BHT (IC50 = 23.1 ± 0.0 μg/mL). Among the main phenolics, gallic acid exhibited the highest antiproliferative and radical scavenging abilities (IC50 < 5 μg/mL). Conclusion: In this study, we have determined the biologically active fractions and their high effects may be attributed to the presence of gallic acid.

Bioactivity evaluation of cudraxanthone I, neocyclomorusin and (9βh)-3β-acetoxylanosta-7,24-diene isolated from Milicia excelsa Welw. C. C. Berg (Moraceae)

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of three compounds isolated from the methanolic extract of the roots bark of Milicia excelsa (Moraceace) namely cudraxanthone I (1), neocyclomorusin (2) and (9βH)-3β-acetoxylanosta-7,24-diene (3). The cytotoxic activities of the compounds were determined using the xCELLigence system (Real Time Cell Analyzer). The compounds of cudraxanthone I and neocyclomorusin exhibited the excellent cytotoxic effects on the growth of human cervical epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines (IC50 < 10 µg/mL). Among the compounds; neocyclomorusin showed the highest radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.73 ± 0.01 mg/mL). The compounds exhibited low antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. This study supports the documented medicinal effects of the compounds and opens up the possibilities of pharmaceutical applications.

A novel benzimidazole and other constituents with antiproliferative and antioxidant properties from Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur

Abstract A new compound (microphybenzimidazole, 7) along with the six known compounds matairesinol (1), prestegane B (2), umbelliferone (3), daphnoretin (4), microphynolide A (5) and microphynolide B (6) were isolated from Thymelaea microphylla. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HPLC-TOF/MS. Compounds 2 and 4, as well as three fractions (F6, F6-C5, and F6-W42) obtained from a 50% (v:v) CH2Cl2:MeOH extract exhibited a selective activity against rat brain glioma cells (C6). Moreover, compound 1 and other fractions obtained from 50% (v:v) CH2Cl2:MeOH and 70% (v:v) MeOH:H2O extracts exhibited dose- and time-dependent effects on human cervical cancer cell (HeLa), as measured by xCELLigence assay. Compound 2 (IC50 = 14.0 ± 0.2 μg/mL) and fraction F5 (IC50 = 12.4 ± 0.1 μg/mL) showed higher radical scavenging ability than the synthetic agent butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, IC50 = 22.7 ± 0.6 μg/mL)

Antioxidant Potential of Herbal Preparations and Components from Galactites elegans (All.) Nyman ex Soldano

Galactites is a genus of flowering plants belonging to Asteraceae family. This genus is mainly represented by the Galactites elegans (All.) Nyman ex Soldano, the milky thistle, a plant of Mediterranean origin. Galactites elegans is consumed as a monofloral boar thistle honey. Chromatography separation of CHCl3 and n-BuOH extracts of aerial parts of G. elegans led to isolation of 18 pure compounds. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-and 2D-NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis. Sinapic aldehyde, abietin, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 8α-hydroxypinoresinol, 9α-hydroxypinoresinol, pinoresinol, 4-ketopinoresinol, nortrachelogenin, and erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-O-4′-dihydroconiferyl alcohol were isolated from CHCl3 extract, while luteolin 4′-O-glucuronide, naringenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercitrin, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside, ciwujiatone, and nortrachelogenin-4,4′-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were obtained from n-BuOH extract. The majority of isolated compounds displayed a significant antioxidant potential in vitro test (DPPH). The ability of compounds to reduce the level of peroxides in control and BHP-treated Jurkat cells was studied. The lignan derivatives were also able to reduce at 50 μM the basal level of peroxides in Jurkat cells as well as counteract peroxide increase induced by BHP treatment. Particularly 8α-hydroxypinoresinol was the most active showing 70% of peroxide level inhibition.

Phytochemical Screening, Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Properties of Various Extracts from Endemic Origanum acutidens

AIM AND OBJECTIVE Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietsw. is an endemic and perennial plant grown mainly in East Anatolia. Recently, natural plant products have attracted interest due to their safety and therapeutic effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate phytochemical contents and biological effects of Origanum acutidens. MATERIALS AND METHODS The aerial parts of O. acutidens were extracted with water, ethyl acetate, nbutanol, and methanol/chloroform solvents. Phenolic compounds and other constituents of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC/TOF-MS. The Ethyl Acetate extract (EA) was fractionated by flash chromatography. The extracts and fractions were investigated for their antiproliferative activities on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line by using BrdU ELISA assay. Antioxidant activities of the extracts and fractions were evaluated by complementary test systems, namely determination of total phenolic contents, metal chelating ability and DPPH radical scavenging assay. RESULTS Among the extracts, Ethyl Acetate extract (EA) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 15.71 ± 0.04 µg/mL) on HeLa cells. It was therefore fractionated by flash chromatography to obtain 10 fractions which were investigated for their phenolic compounds and bioactivities. Rosmarinic acid was determined as the major component of EA and its fractions. EA exhibited higher antiproliferative activity against HeLa cell line than its fractions and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. EA and its fractions (F10, F6, F4, F7, F3, and F2) displayed higher radical scavenging activity compared to Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT). These effects may be attributed to the presence of rosmarinic acid in EA and its active fractions. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that O. acutidens is an essential natural source of polyphenols and a potent natural antioxidant and antiproliferative agent for food and pharmaceutical industries.