Antioxidant, Antiproliferative Properties and Chemical Composition of the Ethanolic Extract from Leaves and Stems of Lebanese Anacyclus nigellifolius Boiss

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the content of the ethanolic extract from leaves and stems of fresh Lebanese Anacyclus nigellifolius Boiss in primary and secondary metabolites and to evaluate its antioxidant and anti-tumor activities on Human lung A549 adenocarcinoma cells. Also, the effect of low doses of chemotherapeutic agent the Cisplatin (CDDP) combined with A. nigellifolius on these cell lines has been studied.

Methods: Phytochemical screening of the extract was done using standard classical tests. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents have been determined using the Folin–Ciocalteau reagent and aluminum chloride method respectively. Also, different classic methods have been used to quantify alkaloids, lipids and ash. On the other hand the antioxidant ability has been estimated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. In addition, the anti-tumor activity of the extract has been evaluated using Neutral Red assay.

Results: The obtained results of the phytochemical screening showed the existence of terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, saponin, glycosides and tannins in ethanol extract. In addition, this extract has showed higher contents in both total phenolic and total flavonoids. On the other hand, the DPPH method showed strong scavenging activity with an IC50=0.178 mg/mL. Moreover, an antiproliferative activity was observed by inhibiting the viability of A549 cell line in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion: All these results indicated that A. nigellifolius might be used in the prevention from some diseases related to the oxidative stress.