Abstract
Pteridophytes, represented by ferns and allies, are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants. Ferns have evolved independently of any other species in the plant kingdom being its secondary metabolism a reservoir of phytochemicals characteristic of this taxon. The study of the potential uses of Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as medicinal plant has increased in recent years particularly when in 2008 the European Medicines Agency published a monograph about the rhizome of this species. Our objective is to provide scientific knowledge on the polar constituents extracted from the fronds of P. vulgare, one of the main ferns of European distribution, to contribute to the validation of certain traditional uses. Specifically, we have characterized the methanolic extract of P. vulgare fronds (PVM) by HPLC-DAD and investigated its potential cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, ROS production and protective effects against oxidative stress by using in vitro methods. The 3T3, HaCaT, HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7 and A549 were the cell lines used to evaluate the possible cytotoxic behaviour of the PVM. HPLC-DAD was utilized to validate the polyphenolic profile of the extract. H2O2 and UVA were the prooxidant agents to induce oxidative stress by different conditions in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines. Antioxidant activity of in vitro PVM in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines was evaluated by ROS assay. Our results demonstrate that PVM contains significant amounts of shikimic acid together with caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and flavonoids such as epicatechin and catechin; PVM is not cytotoxic at physiological concentrations against the different cell lines, showing cytoprotective and cellular repair activity in 3T3 fibroblast cells. This biological activity could be attributed to the high content of polyphenolic compounds. The fronds of the P. vulgare are a source of polyphenolic compounds, which can be responsible for certain traditional uses like wound healing properties. In the present work, fronds of the common polypody are positioned as a candidate for pharmaceutical applications based on traditional medicine uses but also as potential food ingredients due to lack of toxicity at physiological concentrations.
Highlights
Oxidative stress is characterized by an imbalance between prooxidant agents and the antioxidant defence system
The main effect of this ultraviolet irradiation is the increase in oxidative stress caused by the increase in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which can lead to an imbalance in the endogenous antioxidant system (Gegotek et al, 2020)
Phytochemicals can modulate the behaviour of tumour cells by acting on different pathways of molecular signalling such as exogenous antioxidant system
Summary
Oxidative stress is characterized by an imbalance between prooxidant agents and the antioxidant defence system. The inability to maintain an adequate redox state, either due to excess production of free radicals or an alteration of the antioxidant system, triggers oxidative damage that affects fundamental biological structures (Willcox et al, 2004). In this sense, studies have associated oxidative stress with the development of different metabolic diseases (Cásedas et al, 2016; He et al, 2017). The main effect of this ultraviolet irradiation is the increase in oxidative stress caused by the increase in ROS, which can lead to an imbalance in the endogenous antioxidant system (Gegotek et al, 2020). Polyphenols, as flavonoids for their safety and accessibility, can be key dietary molecules for cancer treatment and prevention respectively (Asensi et al, 2011; Shukla et al, 2014; Alvarado-Sansininea et al, 2018)
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