New Phytochemical Investigation of Atriplex halimus L. and Evaluation of its Cytotoxic and Anticancer Effect on Human Pancreas Cancer Cells

Abstract

Background: This study was to analyze for the first time the phytochemical composition of Atriplex halimus L. by advanced technique and evaluate its anticancer effect on pancreas cancer cells. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds synthesized in plants as bioactive secondary metabolites that have potent antioxidants.Methods: high performance liquid chromatography techniques used to analysis bioactive compounds of Atriplex halimus and Total Flavonoid Content was determined. evaluate the anticancer activity of Atriplex halimus extract on primary cell culture of human pancreas carcinoma done by MTT assay and compared it with a chemotherapy drug.Antioxidant activity for A. halimus was measured by1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging. Also, cell viability , catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity were measured. Cancer cells were treated with a concentration of A. halimus, cisplatin, and a combination of them.Results: The results showed two types of flavanols, quercetin and kaempferol. While, scavenging activity of A. halimus extract at 50 mg/ml concentration was 38.14696%. The MTT assay shows the highest cytotoxicity on cancer cells at concentrations of 100 and 200 μg/ml for all treatments. However, the catalase level decreased in treated cells compared to the untreated cells (P = 0.001) and no significant differences in SOD level in all these cells (P = 0.809).Conclusions: Our research indicates that A. halimus has potent antioxidant and anticancer effects, which may be brought on by the presence of flavonoids in this plant.