GC-MS profiling, antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, DNA cleavage effect of Symphytum aintabicum Hub.-Mor. & Wickens (Boraginaceae) and its anticancer activity on MCF-7 cell line

Authors: ALEVCAN KAPLAN

Abstract: Symphytum species, generally known as comfrey, have been used for ancient times in folk medicine for wounds, bone breakages, rheumatism, liver problems, and innumerable potentialities. However, many of the species belonging to the genus Symphytum have not been analyzed with scientific methods and principles yet. Therefore, this work is a guide for determining and researching the main gaps in the literature. In this study, MeOH and petroleum ether (PE) extracts of Symphytum aintabicum Hub.-Mor. & Wickens were analyzed for their biological activities and GC-MS analysis, antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, DNA cleavage effect, and anticancer activity on the MCF-7 human breast cell line. The phytochemical constituents of the main composition of S. aintabicum extracts were determined. The MeOH extract was found to contain higher concentrations of phenolic 90.87 (±5.30) mg (GAE)/g extract and flavonoid 98.00 (± 9.72) mg (CE)/g extract substances in comparison to the PE extract. The extracts displayed significant ABTS activity and it was found that the IC50 values of the PE and MeOH extracts were calculated as 6.88 mg/mL (±0.11) and 0.032 mg/mL ±0.002), respectively. According to the data obtained, PE extract demonstrated more antimicrobial activity than the MeOH extracts. The PE and MeOH extracts was found to have strongest antimicrobial activity on Micrococcus luteus, E. coli (125 ?g/mL; 250 ?g/mL) and Candida albicans (1000 ?g/mL), respectively. Additionally, the effects of plant extracts on DNA cleavage were investigated using pBR322 plasmid DNA, and it was found that the PE extract was more effective than the MeOH extract in both the presence and absence of H2 O2 . In the MTT assay, the lowest % cell viability values in the PE and MeOH extracts were 42.79% and 47.77% at 500 ppm, respectively. The IC50 values for the PE and MeOH extracts were 414.73 ?g/mL and 443.31 ?g/mL. Findings of this study show that S. aintabicum has shown interesting pharmacological and biological activities, and is a particularly suitable candidate for anticancer drug development.

Keywords: Antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, GC-MS, pBR322 plasmid DNA, S. aintabicum

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