Abstract
Rumex crispus is a perennial plant that grows in humid environments across Korea. Its roots are used in traditional Korean medicine to treat several diseases, including diseases of the spleen and skin and several inflammatory pathologies. In this study, different solvent fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions) from an ethanol extract of R. crispus roots were evaluated for the presence and composition of anthraquinone compounds and antioxidants by checking for such things as free radical scavenging activity, and electron and proton atom donating ability. In addition, anti-inflammatory activity was measured by NO scavenging activity and inflammatory cytokine production; furthermore, anti-cancer activity was measured by apoptosis-inducing ability. Polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds were shown to be abundant in the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions, which also exhibited strong antioxidant activity, including free radical scavenging and positive results in FRAP, TEAC, and ORAC assays. HPLC analysis revealed that the dichloromethane fractions had higher anthraquinone contents than the other fractions; the major anthraquinone compounds included chrysophanol, emodin, and physcione. In addition, results of the anti-inflammatory assays showed that the ethyl acetate fraction showed appreciable reductions in the levels of nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in Raw 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the anthraquinone-rich dichloromethane fraction displayed the highest anticancer activity when evaluated in a human hepatoma cancer cell line (HepG2), in which it induced increased apoptosis mediated by p53 and caspase activation.
Highlights
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), known as oxygen-centered free radicals, are produced during normal metabolic processes and play an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis
They are classified into phenolic acids and flavonoids [20]
Analysis of the total polyphenol and flavonoid content in the R. crispus extracts and solvent fractions revealed that polyphenol content was highest in the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), followed by the dichloromethane fraction (DCMF), ethanol extract (EE), aqueous fraction (AF), butanol fraction (BF), and the hexane fraction (HF)
Summary
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), known as oxygen-centered free radicals, are produced during normal metabolic processes and play an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. A state of chronic oxidative stress can cause oxidative damage to various cellular components, including cell membranes, DNA, and proteins It can result in the activation of systemic chronic inflammatory responses via a number of different intracellular signaling pathways, exacerbating a variety of pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and aging [2]. Plants have been identified as an especially rich source of antioxidant compounds, with most containing phenolic groups, which are known to play a crucial role in the removal of ROS These phenolic compounds are generally secondary metabolites involved in stress responses and are known to perform various physiological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer functions [6,7]. This study was designed to evaluate the potential of new bioactive substances from R. crispus identified by analyzing their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities using root extracts and various extract fractions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
