GC/TOF-MS-based phytochemical analysis, in vitro antiproliferative effects, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. piriei (Hutch.) B. Hansen

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance necessitates the need for continued search for new antimicrobial compounds. In this study, we report the antibacterial activity, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activity of Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. piriei (Hutch.) B. The extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity using the agar well diffusion, micro-dilution, minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effects of extracts were determined using MTT assay against Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293), Human Breast Endocrine Cells (SKBR-3), Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells (Caco-2) and Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The extracts were also assessed for antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), 2–2′-Azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate (ABTS), nitric oxide radicals and Fe2+ chelating assays. The methanol extract (MeOH) was subjected to GC-TOF-MS analysis. MeOH extract exhibited highest zone of inhibition (ZI) of 15.67 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. The extract further exhibited 67.0% inhibition against Escherichia coli in a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) membrane damage assay. In the cytotoxicity assay, MeOH and DCM extracts had LC50 value of 237 µg/ml and 221 µg/ml against SKBR-3 cell line respectively. Gas-chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOF-MS) analysis of methanol extract indicated the presence of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ád-ribofuranosyl 5′-monophosphate (36.827%), 3-O-methyl-d-glucose (36.827%) and phthalic acid, di(oct‑3-yl) ester (8.161%). Even though the investigated plant is suggested to have anticancer activities by traditional healers, the extracts had little inhibition on selected cancerous cell lines. Given the good antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the extracts, the plant may act as an immune booster and prevent infections in immunosuppressed cancer patients. Detected compounds may be influence the observed biological activity of the plant.