Bioactivity Assays of Eryngium thyrsoideum; Focusing on Cytotoxic Effects, Antioxidant Activity, and Antimalarial Properties

Abstract

Background: The genus Eryngium, Apiaceae is widely distributed in the world and used in traditional medicine for different therapeutic purposes. Eryngium thyrsoideum was investigated due to a lack of phytochemical studies on the probable bioactivities of its compounds. Methods: The aerial parts of the plant were extracted using n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol (MeOH) by the soxhlet method. The MeOH extract was exposed to C18 Sep-Pak fractionation by a step gradient of MeOH-H2 O. The essential oil was obtained by the Clevenger apparatus. Free-radical scavenging activity of the extracts and fractions was assessed using the DPPH-scavenging activity method. Total flavonoid content was determined by Aluminum chloride colorimetric and phenolic content was determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method. α-Glucosidase inhibitory and antimalarial activity of extracts and essential oil and cytotoxic activity of essential oils was also established in this study. Results: The 20% solid phase extraction fraction demonstrated high antioxidant activity (0.13±0.01 mg/mL) and also indicated the most total flavonoid and total phenolic contents (474.20±23.11 and 27.90±0.55 mg/100 g) respectively, in comparison to other fractions. We observed a moderate β-Hematin Formation Assay inhibitory effect of the essential oil (10.37±0.02 mg/mL) and DCM extract (7.64±0.01 mg/mL). Low levels of α-glucosidase inhibition were observed in n-hexane extract (9.78±1.1%) and essential oil of aerial parts (2.7±1.1%). Cytotoxic activity for the essential oils is confirmed by representing respectively IC50 with 2.51 mcg/mL and 1.07 mcg/mL in 24 and 48 hours in MCF-7 cell lines. Conclusion: The presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in MeOH extract and fractions is effective on the antioxidant potency of E. thyrsoideum. Essential oil of this plant presented noticeable effects on human breast cancer cell lines.