Reactive Species Metabolism and Cytotoxicity of Tribulus terrestris L. Alkaloid Extracts in Leukemic Cell Line

Abstract

Basaiyye et al.: Cytotoxic Nature of Antioxidant Alkaloid Extracts of Tribulus terrestris L. FruitsThe present communication dealt with cytotoxic and free radical scavenging potential of tertiary and quaternary alkaloid extracts of Tribulus terrestris fruits. Tertiary and quaternary alkaloid extracts were found to be cytotoxic to leukemic cells (Jurkat E6-1) with LC 50 values of 100 and 42 µg/ml, respectively. Compared to the control, reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species were significantly reduced in the cells treated with lower concentrations of tertiary and quaternary alkaloid extracts. Cells treated with tertiary alkaloid extract demonstrated significantly elevated levels of peroxidise, catalase and superoxide dismutaselike activities, whereas cells treated with quaternary alkaloid extracts showed insignificant elevations of the tested enzyme activities, compared to the control cells. The antioxidant activity of tertiary alkaloid (100 µg/ml) extract was 46.78 and 14.92 µg/ml of ascorbic acid equivalent as estimated in ferric reducing antioxidant potential and total antioxidant assays. Quaternary alkaloid extract displayed an IC 50 value of 159 µg/ml in the nitric oxide mitigation assay. Cells treated with quaternary alkaloid extracts showed 1.4-fold increase in superoxide dismutase-like activity compared to the control cells. These results suggest that tertiary and quaternary alkaloid extracts possessed cytotoxic and free radical scavenging potential against leukemic cells.

The Influence of Different Extraction Methods/Solvents on Composition, Biological Activities and ADMET Predictions of Phenolics in Tribulus terrestris

“…Used medicinally by people in many regions, including Chinese traditional medicine, Tribulus terrestris is a medically important plant. It is known that it is traditionally used in the treatment of some diseases such as cancer, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, rheumatism, and hypertension [4]. Pharmacological studies on T. terrestris have shown the presence of steroidal saponins such as diosgenin and protodioscin, alkaloids, flavonoids, and glycosides.…”

“…The infusion extract obtained from the fruit of the plant is used in the treatment of gout, as well as for coughing and asthma. The plant's leaves have been used as a vasoconstrictor and blood coagulant, diuretic, aphrodisiac, depurative and tonic [1,[4][5][6]. Free radicals are defined as highly reactive and unstable molecules with unpaired electrons in their final trajectories.…”