Antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity of Cordia dichotoma fruits accompanied with its volatile and sugar composition

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects of Cordia dichotoma fruit pulp extract “CDFP-extract”. Day after intraperitoneal inoculation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in mice, CDFP-extract was administered orally at 500 mg/kg body weight (equal to 0.10 of determined LD50) for ten consecutive days. CDFP-extract contains 112.71 ± 8.40 mg gallic acid/g, 69.76 ± 4.18 mg quercetin/g, 25.65 ± 1.80 mg catechin/g, 70.90 ± 2.92 mg total alkaloids/g extract. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for sugar determination showed that glucouronic acid was the main compound (34.08%) followed by sucrose, glucose, and fructose by 25.61%, 11.82%, and 8.95%, respectively. The gas-liquid chromatography (GC) and GC‐MS of the fruit showed that the presence of 19 volatile compounds were identified. The main constituents of the extract were bornyl acetate, α-terpineol, linaly butyrate, and α-phellandrene. The CDFP-extract showed a powerful effect in scavenging superoxide radicals and chelating metals ions as well as high reduction capability and total antioxidant capacity, dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the viable Ehrlich cell count and solid tumor weight were significantly reduced by administration of CDFP extract and it increased non-viable cells. The CDFP-extract ameliorated all hematological parameters, this amelioration reflected on increasing median survival time and significant increase (p < 0.05) in life span. CDFP-extract appeared in antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. The anti-tumor activity of CDFP-extract may be attributed to phenols, flavonoids, tannins and glucouronic acid contents that are documented as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor agents.