Cytotoxicity of Sambucus nigra L. on Cancer Cell Line and In Vitro Antioxidant Properties

Abstract

Objective: Essential oils, free fatty acids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals are found in significant quantities in the characteristic chemical composition of Sambucus nigra L. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Sambucus nigra L. Fructus and evaluate the cytotoxicity on the cancer cell line.
 Methods: The Sambucus nigra L. fruits were collected from Yalova Atatürk Horticultural Central Research Institute in September 2021. The ethanol extract was prepared. Antioxidant property of Sambucus nigra L. fruit extracts was evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl- hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC). Also, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and total anthocyanin content were calculated. Liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) was used for cytotoxicity assay and an 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was applied.
 Results: The total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and total monomeric anthocyanins were 9.75±0.92 mg GAE/ mg fruit extract, 0.07437±0.004 mg quercetin/ mg fruit extract, respectively. 0.45±0.0014 mg catechin/gram of fruit extract and 2.08±0.025 mg Cyanidin-3 glucosides/g fruit extract. CUPRAC and DPPH results showed that Sambucus nigra L. extract has strong antioxidant activity. The results of the cytotoxicity assay indicated that while concentrations of the extract increased, the viability of HepG2 decreased.
 Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the Sambucus fruit extract is particularly rich in antioxidant components that are possibly modulating their beneficial use for hepatocellular malignancies, significantly reducing the number of viable cancer cells and inducing cell death.