Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Leptocarpha rivularis DC Flower Extracts

Abstract

An evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activity was screened in Leptocarpha rivularis DC flower extracts using four solvents (n-hexane (Hex), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (AcOEt), and ethanol (EtOH)). Extracts were compared for total extract flavonoids and phenol contents, antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), total reactive antioxidant properties (TRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)) across a determined value of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), and cell viability (the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay). The most active extracts were analyzed by chromatographic analysis (GC/MS) and tested for apoptotic pathways. Extracts from Hex, DCM and AcOEt reduced cell viability, caused changes in cell morphology, affected mitochondrial membrane permeability, and induced caspase activation in tumor cell lines HT-29, PC-3, and MCF-7. These effects were generally less pronounced in the HEK-293 cell line (nontumor cells), indicating clear selectivity towards tumor cell lines. We attribute likely extract activity to the presence of sesquiterpene lactones, in combination with other components like steroids and flavonoids.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Hydro-Ethanolic Extracts Obtained from Steiractinia aspera Cuatrec

“…The absorbances were measured in the spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 430 nm. Each extract was analyzed in triplicate and the results were expressed in mg quercetin (QE)/g dry weight, based on a calibration curve [30].…”

Phytochemical Profiling and Assessment of Anticancer Activity of Leptocarpha rivularis Extracts Obtained from In Vitro Cultures

“…The chemical composition of extracts of L. rivularis has been extensively studied and it is well established that they contain sesquiterpene lactones, of which LTC is the major component [5,6,30,31]. On the other hand, as the phytochemical composition of plants propagated under in vitro conditions could vary due to controlled cultivation conditions, it becomes necessary to determine the composition of extracts obtained from propagated explants and callus generated in vitro.…”

“…In previous work, it was shown that both LTC and extracts of L. rivularis exhibit antiproliferative activity against different cancer cell lines [5,6,8,10]. In this work, the cytotoxicity of extracts, obtained from in vitro-propagated plants of L. rivularis, was evaluated by using cancer and normal cell lines, namely, HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma) and CCD841/CoN (colon epithelium non-cancer cell line), respectively.…”

“…It grows mainly in the southern part of Chile (between VII and X regions) [1], and it has been known and used for centuries as folk medicine by the Mapuche people [2]. Previous phytochemical studies of L. rivularis have shown that extracts obtained from leaves, bark, and flowers exhibit antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anticancer effects [3][4][5][6][7]. These biological activities have been attributed to the presence of sesquiterpene lactones, i.e., leptocarpine (LTC) as the major component and small amounts of rivularin and the 17,18-dihydroleptocarpin derivative [8][9][10][11].…”

Antitumoral Activity of Leptocarpha rivularis Flower Extracts against Gastric Cancer Cells

“…It has been used ancestrally by people of the Mapuche ethnic group to treat gastrointestinal ailments [ 28 ]. L. rivularis produces a variety of bioactive compounds, including a group of molecules termed sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) [ 29 ]. SLs have attracted the attention of researchers for exhibiting anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities [ 30 ].…”