Evaluation of the cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of non-polar viscum album l. extract (COLLECTED from JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS)

Abstract

The leaf extract of Viscum album was evaluated for its cytotoxic and anti/prooxidant activities. The CO2 extract, which appeared as the most active in both assays, was subjected to GC/MS analysis to identify the sesquiterpenes trans-cc-bergamotene (1), trans-ß-farnesene (2) and vomifoliol (3) as major extract constituents. The cytotoxic activity of the extract was assayed against EAC breast carcinoma cells and AS30D hepatoma cells in vivo. Dose response was tested with 3 dosages in experiments (1,2 and 3 mg/kg b.w.). In addition, evaluation of the antioxidant activity was performed in vivo, by measuring the status of reduced glutathione - glutathione reductase - glutathione peroxidase system (GSH/GR/GSHPx). All tested extract doses and compounds proved to be active, while compound (3) showed the best antioxidant effect. Also, compound (3) exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activity (75.2% on nonviable EAC cells, and 28.3% on non-viable AS30D cells), which was superior to that of N-acetyl-L-cysteine as control antioxidant (10.1% and 6.3% of non-viable EAC and AS30D cells, respectively). Differences in possible antioxidant activity between N-acetyl-L-cysteine and examined extract were noticed. N-acetyl-L-cysteine proved to be a strong antioxidant in vivo. On the other hand, crude extract and selected compounds exhibited mild antioxidant activity, and did not significantly affect the serum status of GSH/GR/GSHPx system and LPx. Nevertheless, the application of the crude extract and compound (3) significantly affected the mentioned systems in tumor cells by inducing oxidative stress, and significantly increasing cytotoxicity against EAC cells, but less against AS30D cells. by PSP.