Potential Anti-Cancer, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant of Polar and Non-Polar Extracts of Origanummajorana Linn

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the anticancer and cytotoxic activity of the Origanum majorana and also to test its antioxidant potential. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The in vitro anticancer and cytotoxic activity of the Polar (PF) and Non-Polar Fraction (NPF) obtained from a total Ethanolic Extract (EE) of O. majorana were evaluated using the murine myeloma cell lines Sp2/O-Ag14 (ATCC: CRL-1581) and VERO-ATCC-CCL81. The cell viability was measured with the Colorimetric Quantification System of the Transmittance Index (CQSTI) method; a simple ANOVA of the CQSTI values of each cell line treated with the different extracts was carried out. Findings: The preliminary phytochemical analysis determined the presence of tannins, flavonoids and terpenes in the fractions. EE and PF showed a strong DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, 88,8 and 85.9% uptake, respectively. EE and PF displayed promising anti anticancer activity for both cell lines, so, EE, PF and NPF concentrations that produced 50% cell viability included 5.7 mg/mL, 5.8 mg/mL and 35.8 mg/mL, respectively. Application/Improvements: For the first time it is shown that the PF from O. majorana a low concentrations affected myeloma cells but not VERO cells. These results indicate that this fraction has an anticancer activity. In addition, our results demonstrated that the PF has a high phenolic content, this could be related to its cytotoxic activity. Keywords: Anticancer, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Extract, Flavonoids, O. marjorana, Phenolic Compounds