Centaurea Species Research Articles

Essential Oil of Centaurea damascena Aerial Parts, Antibacterial and Synergistic Effect

Centaurea damascena a member of Asteraceae family was investigated for its aerial part essential oil composition and antibacterial activities. A total of 35 components were characterized with the presence of oxygenated terpenes that represents more than 86 % of the total essential oil components. The composition was dominated by 11.45 % fokienol, 8.8 % thymol, 8.21 % α-terpineol, 7.24 % chrysanthemic acid, 7.13 % terpinen-4-ol and 6.59 % borneol with a high degree of polymorphism in the occurrence of these compounds as compared with the different species of Centaurea. The antibacterial activity was assessed by using the disc diffusion methods and the minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) using microdilution method. The essential oils from Centaurea damascena possessed antibacterial activity against eight out of ten tested microorganisms at 5 μg/mL. While same oil showed only inhibitory activity at 20 μg/mL against Klebsiella pneumoniae (BL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BL). The MIC of essential oils of C. damascena ranged from 15-1000 μg/mL. A synergetic effect against E. coli and K. pneumoniae was observed when 5 μg/mL oils were used with some of the ineffective antibiotics such as gentamicin for E. coli and vancomycin, ampicilin and chloramphenicol for K. pneumoniae. The activity of the antibiotic cefixime was increased by 26 % against K. pneumoniae after combination with the oil suggesting using it as potential adjuvant in the antibiotic treatment of pneumonia caused by K. pneumoniae and other ailments caused by oil-susceptible bacteria.

Centaurea subsect. Phalolepis in Southern Italy: ongoing speciation or species overestimation? Genetic evidence based on SSRs analyses

In this paper, we investigated a set of narrow endemics of Centaurea subsect. Phalolepis from the mountains of South Italy (mainly Calabria and Salento), segregated from the widespread species Centaurea deusta, using microsatellite (SSR) markers. The goal was to analyse the genetic makeup (levels and structure) of C. deusta and the segregated species and verify whether genetic clusters were in agreement with current classification of the species. With C. deusta, we also carried out an ecological niche modelling (ENM) analysis to check its potential distribution under present climatic conditions and to project it to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). As also found in former studies with subsect. Phalolepis in Greece and Turkey using the same set of SSRs, genetic diversity for the segregated Italian species was higher than expected for narrow endemics with small populations. Genetic clusters, however, were not correlated with the described species and did not support the segregation of the purported narrow endemics from a widely defined C. deusta. The results of the ENM indicate that the Adriatic Sea was a migration corridor for C. deusta at the LGM.

Capitula essential oil composition of seven Centaurea species (sect. Acrocentron, Asteraceae) – Taxonomic implication and ecological significance

In this paper, we analyzed the capitula essential oil composition of seven Centaurea species, six of which belong to Centaurea calocephala complex, and the related species Centaurea melanocephala Pančić (subgenus Acrocentron, tribus Cardueae, subtribus Centaureinae) which inhabit Balkans Peninsula. The volatile organic compounds were extracted by simultaneous distillation extraction, using Likens-Nickerson type apparatus and the oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. In total, 146 compounds were identified (95.5–99.4% of the total oil composition). The essential oils were dominated by sesquiterpenes (39.1–81.7%). The most abundant components were β-caryophyllene (3.1–28.3%), caryophyllene oxide (4.7–31.2%), germacrene D (2.9–22.2%), followed by n-hexacosane, [2Z,6E]-farnesol, eudesma-4(15),7-dien-1-β-ol, α-cadinole, germacrene B, trans-verbenol, and hexanal that were present in some samples in relatively high abundances. The geographic region and the color of capitula were analyzed in correlation with essential oil composition. Also, all investigated species are characterized by the different amount of most dominant components, which leads to the hypothesis that they “choose” different strategies: different combination and amounts of attractants for pollinators. Ecological correlations and taxonomical implications are further discussed.

Cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of essential oil of Centaurea behen L. in vitro.

Centaurea species of Asteraceae family are widely use in traditional medicine. Despite wide medicinal use of Centaurea sp., there is limited knowledge concerning Centaurea behen toxicity. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to determine cytotoxic and oxidative effects of essential oil of C. behen on human blood cell cultures. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays were performed to determine cytotoxic effects. In addition, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) were examined to determine oxidative potentials. The results indicated that all tested concentrations of essential oil of C. behen were cytotoxic and led to decreases of cell viability in both assays. Besides, C. behen led to significant increases of TOS levels and decreases of TAC levels. As a conclusion, the present study showed for the first time the cytotoxic and oxidant effects of essential oil of C. behen on cultured human whole blood cells.

Biological Activity of Flavonoids and Rare Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated From Centaurea ragusina L.

The endemic Croatian species Centaurea ragusina L., like other species from the genus Centaurea, has been traditionally used in Croatia as an antibacterial agent and for the treatment of gastrointestinal and urogenital disorders. In several chromatographic steps, three flavonoids and three sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) were isolated and identified from the most active fractions of the ethanol extract. Two STLs, one for which we created the trivial name ragusinin, and hemistepsin A are here reported for the first time as constituents of the genus Centaurea. All six compounds were screened for their effect on several tumor and one normal cell lines. Among them, ragusinin showed the best bioactivity and high specificity to affect tumor murine SCCVII, human HeLa and Caco-2 cell lines, but not the viability of normal V79 fibroblasts. Due to these characteristics the action of ragusinin was investigated in more detail. Since DNA is the primary target for many drugs with antibacterial and anticancer activity, we studied its interaction with ragusinin. Rather moderate binding affinity to DNA excluded it as the primary target of ragusinin. Due to the possibility of STL interaction with glutathione (GSH), the ubiquitous peptide that traps reactive compounds and other xenobiotics to prevent damage to vital proteins and nucleic acids, its role in deactivation of ragusinin was evaluated. Addition of the GSH precursor N-acetyl-cysteine potentiated the viability of HeLa cells, while the addition of GSH inhibitor L-buthionine sulfoximine decreased it. Moreover, pre-treatment of HeLa cells with the inhibitor of glutathione-S-transferase decreased their viability indicating the detoxifying role of GSH in ragusinin treated cells. Cell death, derived by an accumulation of cells in a G2 phase of the cell cylce, was shown to be independent of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase-3 cleavage pointing toward an alternative cell death pathway.

Evidence for evolution of increased competitive ability for invasive Centaurea solstitialis, but not for naturalized C. calcitrapa

Congeneric species with the same native and non-native ranges, but exhibiting different invasiveness, provide opportunities to assess the relative importance of factors contributing to successful invasions. For example, comparing the competitive ability of such congeners against other species from the native and non-native regions of invasive species can provide insight into the role of evolutionary experience with different competitors. We selected two congeneric Centaurea species with overlapping native and non-native ranges but with strikingly different invasive success, Centaurea solstitialis and C. calcitrapa, and conducted experiments with populations from each region using a suite of different native grass species from each region. When grown with Spanish grass species, competitive responses were 32% stronger for C. calcitrapa and 30% stronger for C. solstitialis, than when in competition with grasses native to California. Centaurea solstitialis from California had 66% higher competitive effects on grasses, all species considered together, than Spanish C. solstitialis; whereas the competitive effects of C. calcitrapa on grasses were not significantly different between C. calcitrapa ranges. Our results are consistent with the prediction that the evolution of increased competitive ability (EICA) might contribute to the devastating success of C. solstitialis in California, and that its absence might contribute to the modest naturalization of the non-invasive C. calcitrapa. Escape from the strong competitive effects and responses of grasses from Spain may also contribute to invasive success in California. Our results suggest that studies of EICA should be based on competitive tests, since biomass alone is not always a good predictor of competitive ability.

Centaurea kirmacii (Asteraceae), a new species from southwestern Anatolia, Turkey

A new species of Centaurea is described from Turkey. Centaurea kirmacii Uysal & Armağan occurs on limestone slopes in Pinus brutia forests of Gökçukur plateau of Kavaklıdere (Muğla). The new species belongs to C. sect. Pteracantha Wagenitz, and taxonomically its closest relative is C. odyssei Wagenitz. Diagnostic characters of the new species are provided, with an updated key that includes related species of C. sect. Pteracantha in Turkey. The geographical distributions of the new species and its relatives of the same section are mapped.

Traits correlate with invasive success more than plasticity: A comparison of three Centaurea congeners.

The importance of phenotypic plasticity for successful invasion by exotic plant species has been well studied, but with contradictory and inconclusive results. However, many previous studies focused on comparisons of native and invasive species that co‐occur in a single invaded region, and thus on species with potentially very different evolutionary histories. We took a different approach by comparing three closely related Centaurea species: the highly invasive C. solstitialis, and the noninvasive but exotic C. calcitrapa and C. sulphurea. These species have overlapping distributions both in their native range of Spain and in their non‐native range of California. We collected seeds from 3 to 10 populations from each region and species and grew them in common garden greenhouse conditions to obtain an F1 generation in order to reduce maternal effects. Then, F1 seeds were grown subjected to simulated herbivory, variation in nutrient availability, and competition, to explore plasticity in the responses to these conditions. We found little variation in phenotypic plasticity among species and regions, but C. solstitialis plants from California produced more biomass in competition than their Spanish conspecifics. This species also had the highest relative growth rates when in competition and when grown under low nutrient availability. Noninvasive congeners produced intermediate or opposite patterns.

Centaurea rupestris L.: Cytogenetics, Essential Oil Chemistry and Biological Activity

Centaurea species are used in eastern Mediterranean ethnopharmacology as a result of varietes of bioactive compounds they comprise. Aim of this work was to characterize the Centaurea rupestris L. hydrodistilled essential oil chemical composition and test the biological activity: antimicrobial effect, antioxidant potential and inhibition of cholinesterases. Plant material authentication was done with chromosome number counting and genome size assessment with the flow cytometry. Hydrodistilled essential oils were characterised with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique GC-MS and GC-FID. The antimicrobial effect was tested using disk diffusion and microdilution methods methods, antioxidant potential was tested with DPPH and FRAP methods and cholinesterases inhibition was tested with Ellman method. Genome size for C. rupestris species: sample A presented 2C=3.60 (0.10) pg and sample B 2C=3.62 (0.08) pg. The chromosome number was 2n=20 for both samples. The main essential oil constituents in isolated sample A oil, detected with GC-MS and GC-FID were: germacrene D (24.3%), heptacosane (14.4%), phytol (6.7%), β- caryophyllene (5.0%) and pentacosane (4.5%). Sample B essential oil had the main constituents: hexadecanoic acid (18.7%), heptacosane (13.8%), α-linolenic acid (11.8%), nonacosane (7.8%) and germacrene D (5.4%). Both samples of oil showed broad spectrum antimicrobial effect with good activity against emerging Gram-positive and Gram- negative oportunistic pathogens and pathogenic fungi which indicates the pharmaceutical potential of the C. rupestris essential oil.

In Vitro Evaluation of Phenolics Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Three Centaurea L. Species from Iran

Background: Members of the genus Centaurea L. (Astraceae) are used in some countries for betterment of various ailments in the popular medicine. The main group of secondary metabolites in plants are phenolic compounds and flavonoids which are the main subset of phenolic compounds, possess a lot of biological properties such as antioxidant activity. The aim of present research is to determine in vitro total phenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant potency and also antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts of capitulla and aerial parts of three Centaurea species, namely C. sosnovsky Grossh., C. irritans Wagenitz and C. kandavanesis Wagenitz. In addition, any relationships between the phenolics content and their antioxidant properties were discussed. Methods: To determine total phenol and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extracts, Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods were used, respectively. To evaluate antioxidant activity three different test systems, namely 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging (DPPH), Cu-chelating and s-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching were used. In addition, disc diffusion method was used to assess antibacterial activity of the extracts against 6 gram positive and negative bacteria. Results: Results indicated that the highest total phenol content (98.91 ± 1.87mg GAE/g of dry extract) represented by the aerial part extract of C. kandavanensis. The highest total flavonoid content (5.382 ± 0.231mg GAE/g of dry extract) and also DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50; 0.20 ± 2.02 mg/ml) were exhibited by the capitulla extract of C. sosnovsky. However, the aerial part extract of C. irritans had the most potency for β-carotene bleaching (74.74%) among the studied samples. In addition, the extracts had acceptable antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested. Conclusion: Overall, high content of phenolic compounds and proper antioxidant activity of the examined Centaurea extracts may suggest them as potent antioxidants for special use in future.

Essential Oil and Fatty Acid Composition of Centaurea solstitialis ssp. solstitialis

Centaurea is a widespread genus from Asteraceae family in Turkey. There are plenty of researches about fatty acid and essential oil profiles of Centaurea species. Essential oils were obtained using a Clevenger apparatus by hydrodistillation from aerial part of the plant. The essential oil composition of the plant was identified by GC-MS using FID detector. 31 compounds representing 91.5% were identified. Hexadecanoic acid (50.2%) and tetradecanoic acid (10.1%) were found to be the major compounds. For fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were prepared. The fatty acid compositions were analyzed by GC. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were totally 25.05%, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were 19.60% and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 19.86%. The major compounds were found as oleic acid (18.54%), linoleic acid (10.07%), palmitic acid (8.28%), stearic acid (6.82%) and ℽ- linoleic acid (6.75%).

Identification of phenolic components via LC–MS analysis and biological activities of two Centaurea species: C. drabifolia subsp. drabifolia and C. lycopifolia

The Centaurea genus has great potential in traditional systems and has attracted much interest in the design of novel drug formulations. The present study was focused on the chemical fingerprints and biological properties of Centaurea drabifolia subsp. drabifolia and Centaurea lycopifolia extracts. Spectrophotometric and LC–MS techniques were used to establish the chemical profiles of the studied extracts. Enzyme inhibitory potential was assessed against key enzymes linked to global health problems, namely neurodegenerative diseases (acetylcholinesterase), pigmentation (tyrosinase), and diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase). The antimicrobial propensities of the extract were evaluated against 16 bacterial and fungal strains using the microdilution method. The antioxidant abilities were assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, ferric, and cupric reducing powers, phosphomolybdenum, and ferrous metal chelation. The total phenolic compounds varied from 18.33 to 32.84mgGAE/g extract. Total flavonoid content of the extracts were in the range of 2.88–22.39mgRE/g extract. Methanol and water extracts showed stronger antioxidant abilities compared to the ethyl acetate extracts. However, the latter extracts were most efficient towards the target enzymes (except for tyrosinase). The water extracts also exerted considerable antimicrobial effects. Findings from the present work tend to support the idea that C. drabifolia subsp. drabifolia and C. lycopifolia may be utilized as effective bio-resources for designing novel health-promoting products or ingredients. It is anticipated that results amassed from this still will open new avenues for research and contribute towards establishing primary data on these species for designing novel phytopharmaceuticals.

Specialized metabolites from the aerial parts of Centaurea polyclada DC.

The genus Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) is represented by 200 taxa in the flora of Turkey and several Centaurea species are used as herbal remedies against different conditions. Previous phytochemical investigations on this genus generally revealed the isolation of sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoid derivatives. In our continuous search on Centaurea genus, a phytochemical study was performed on Centaurea polyclada DC., an endemic of West Anatolia.Previously undescribed two sesquiterpene-amino acid conjugates, an elemane and an eudesmane derivative were isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurea polyclada, together with eight known compounds; two elemane derivatives, three flavonoids, a lignan, a phenolic glucoside and a phenylpropanoid glucoside. Structural elucidation of the compounds was based on spectroscopic evidence, including 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry, chemical degradation results and reference data comparison. Sesquiterpene-amino acid conjugates are representatives of an unusual group of sesquiterpenes, and elemane-amino acid conjugates are herein reported for the first time in nature.

Seed and Root Endophytic Fungi in a Range Expanding and a Related Plant Species.

Climate change is accelerating the spread of plants and their associated species to new ranges. The differences in range shift capacity of the various types of species may disrupt long-term co-evolved relationships especially those belowground, however, this may be less so for seed-borne endophytic microbes. We collected seeds and soil of the range-expanding Centaurea stoebe and the congeneric Centaurea jacea from three populations growing in Slovenia (native range of both Centaurea species) and the Netherlands (expanded range of C. stoebe, native range of C. jacea). We isolated and identified endophytic fungi directly from seeds, as well as from roots of the plants grown in Slovenian, Dutch or sterilized soil to compare fungal endophyte composition. Furthermore, we investigated whether C. stoebe hosts a reduced community composition of endophytes in the expanded range due to release from plant-species specific fungi while endophyte communities in C. jacea in both ranges are similar. We cultivated 46 unique and phylogenetically diverse endophytes. A majority of the seed endophytes resembled potential pathogens, while most root endophytes were not likely to be pathogenic. Only one endophyte was found in both roots and seeds, but was isolated from different plant species. Unexpectedly, seed endophyte diversity of southern C. stoebe populations was lower than of populations from the north, while the seed endophyte community composition of northern C. stoebe populations was significantly different southern C. stoebe as well as northern and southern C. jacea populations. Root endophyte diversity was considerably lower in C. stoebe than in C. jacea independent of plant and soil origin, but this difference disappeared when plants were grown in sterile soils. We conclude that the community composition of fungal endophytes not only differs between related plant species but also between populations of plants that expand their range compared to their native habitat. Our results suggest that fungal endophytes of two Centaurea species are not able to systemically infect plants. We highlight that endophytes remain poorly studied and further work should investigate the functional importance of endophytes.

Biological Activities of Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from the Genus Centaurea L. (Asteraceae).

In recent years, a growing interest has developed in the field of biological activity of plant metabolites. Research in this area considering antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and other properties, is currently expanding, reporting various species to possess such biological effects. Among them, Centaurea species are well known to be used in ethnomedicine. The Centaurea genus (Asteraceae) is represented by more than 500 species, mostly located in the Mediterranean region and Western Asia. The current revision focuses on up-to-date literature on the isolation, structural elucidation and biological properties of sesquiterepene lactones from Centaurea species, regarding antimicrobial, antitumour, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. The methods for extraction, isolation and identification are also pointed out and the bioactivity of lactones as purified compounds discussed. Several general ideas about the structural requirements for activity, based on the in vitro bioassays and the in silico prediction of their ADME properties are discussed. Investigations of chemical analyses and biological potential exhibited that flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, in particular germacranolides, eudesmanolides, elemanolides, and guaianolides, are compounds responsible for the biological potential of plants. Sesquiterpene lactones represent a group of compounds responsible for the medicinal characteristics of Centaurea species. Investigation of structure-activity relationships of all data helps the understanding of the bioactivity resulting from chemical aspects. All activities are discussed profoundly, paying special attention to molecular mechanisms involved in the implication of the health-beneficial effects of these compounds and in order to point them out as candidates for new drug discovery, and as safe natural agents.

Comparison of phenolic components and biological activities of two Centaurea sp. obtained by three extraction techniques.

The present study aimed to compare the polyphenol content, total phenolic, total flavonoid, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts obtained from Centaurea amaena Boiss. & Balansa and Centaurea aksoyi Hamzaoğlu & Budak. Both species were subjected to maceration, Soxhlet and ultrasonication extractions with methanol in order to macerated (ME), Soxhlet (SE) and ultrasonicated (UE) extracts. Their phenolic profiles were qualitatively examined by LC-MS. Their antioxidant activities were determined by phosphomolybdenum, β-carotene bleaching and DPPH assays. Agar diffusion and broth dilution methods were carried out to find the antimicrobial activity of these extracts against fifteen microorganisms. Quercetin, quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside and protocatechuic acid were the main components of the both extracts obtained by Soxhlet extraction. The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were found in the UE for both species. All the extracts exhibited good total antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activity. UE obtained from C.amaena showed the highest antioxidant activity with the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. The antibacterial activity of UE obtained from C.amaena was better than other extracts and antibacterial activity of C.amaena was also better than C.aksoyi. This study confirms that ultrasonic extraction may be an ideal, simple and rapid method to obtain polyphenol-rich extracts have antioxidant as well as antibacterial activity from both Centaurea species especially from C.amaena.

Distributions of vascular plants in the Czech Republic

This the fourth part of the series on the distributions of vascular plants in the Czech Republic includes grid maps of 84 taxa of the genera Aldrovanda, Alisma, Asclepias, Azolla, Blechnum, Botrychium, Butomus, Carex, Centaurea, Drosera, Dysphania, Hypochaeris, Illecebrum, Luronium, Ophioglossum, Persicaria, Pilularia, Rubrivena, Sagittaria, Salvinia, Scirpoides, Sideritis, Streptopus, Teesdalia and Thesium. These maps were produced by taxonomic experts based on herbarium specimens, literature and field records. Of the native taxa studied, 40 are on the national Red List. Among them, Carex pseudobrizoides, Hypochaeris glabra and Illecebrum verticillatum are rare species of mainly sandy habitats, which are all now restricted to a few or several sites and are therefore classified as critically threatened. Endangered aquatics and wetland plants are represented by Alisma gramineum, Salvinia natans, three Drosera species, Luronium natans and Pilularia globulifera, of which the latter two are species with sub-Atlantic distributions, reaching in this country their south-eastern and eastern distribution limits, respectively. All eight species of the genus Thesium and most species of Botrychium are endangered, either because they are rare or they are now considerably less common than they were, or combination of both. Two of the species mapped in this paper are now extirpated from this country. Botrychium simplex was last recorded more than 120 years ago, whereas the spontaneous occurrences of Aldrovanda vesiculosa vanished after 1952. However, the latter species has recently been deliberately planted in the wild for conservation purposes. The taxonomically extremely difficult Centaurea sect. Jacea, whose taxonomy and evolution is complicated by polyploidization and frequent hybridization, includes many taxa whose distributions were unclear until recently. Maps of Centaurea species and subspecies based on revised herbarium specimens are given, supplemented with the occurrence of their hybrids in grid cells where the parental species have not been documented. Alien species are mainly species originally introduced into Europe as ornamental and/or medicinal plants, such as Azolla filiculoides, Carex muskingumensis, Rubrivena polystachya, Sagittaria latifolia, three species of Dysphania and two of Persicaria. Another one, Asclepias syriaca, has become locally abundant and invasive. Other aliens were introduced unintentionally, such as Dysphania melanocarpa and D. pumilio with wool from Australia or Persicaria pensylvanica with soybeans from North America. Spatial distributions and temporal dynamics of individual taxa are shown in maps and documented by records included in the Pladias database and available in electronic appendices. The maps are accompanied by comments, which include additional information on the distribution, habitats, taxonomy and biology of the taxa.

Identification of a rust disease of giant knapweed in the Czech Republic - short communication

During the vegetation seasons 2012–2015, symptoms of severe infections by a rust disease were recorded on plants of the ornamental species Centaurea macrocephala. Based on morphology, the pathogen was identified as Puccinia jaceae or Puccinia hieracii, which have recently been considered as synonyms. However, substantial differences between P. jaceae and P. hieracii in nucleotide sequences of the ITS2 region provide evidence for the molecular identification of the specimen as P. jaceae.

Chromosome number and ploidy level in seven Centaurea species from Croatia

Seven Centaurea species from Croatia ( C. alba , C. calcitrapa , C. cristata , C. rhenana , C. rupestris , C. salonitana and C. solstitialis ) belonging to five sections were studied. Chromosome numbers and metaphase plates are presented. All species studied here were found to be either diploid or tetraploid with the exception of C. salonitana which presented both ploidy levels: one diploid and one tetraploid population were detected

Evaluation of the phytochemical composition and protective activities of methanolic extracts of Centaurea borysthenica and Centaurea daghestanica (Lipsky) Wagenitz on cardiomyocytes treated with doxorubicin

ABSTRACTCentaurea L. is a genus of the family Asteraceae that comprises over 600 taxa. Representatives of the Centaurea genus were used as natural medications for many diseases. Methanolic-aqueous extracts from aerial parts of two Centaurea species: C. borysthenica Gruner and C. daghestanica (Lipsky) Wagenitz were studied for their polyphenolic composition and potential protective effect on cardiomyocytes treated with doxorubicin. Effectiveness of doxorubicin in cancer therapy is limited by a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Oxidative stress is a widely recognized mechanism of this phenomenon. One of the most important strategies has been an application of drug together with antioxidant agents. A cardioprotective effect of selected extracts of Centaurea species was suspected in this study. Cell viability, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses showed protective activity of the methanolic extract of C. borysthenica and C. daghestanica on rat cardiomyocytes treated with doxorubicin. Although C. borysthenica is more effective as a cardiomyocyte protective agent, in higher concentrations it weakened the drug activity. C. daghestanica extract did not change the doxorubicin efficacy in the evaluated experiment. Interestingly, both tested extracts were cytotoxic for myeloma cells. The detected antioxidant activity of the studied extracts can be used in the prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.