| Autor: |
Bălănescu F; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 35 A.I. Cuza Street, 800010 Galati, Romania.; Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Department of Chemistry Physical and Environment, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania., Botezatu AV; Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Department of Chemistry Physical and Environment, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania., Marques F; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares (DECN), Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, Bobadela, 2695-066 Boticas, Portugal., Busuioc A; Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Department of Chemistry Physical and Environment, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania., Marincaş O; National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Vînătoru C; Plant Genetic Resources Bank for Vegetables, Floriculture, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Buzău, 56 Nicolae Bălcescu Street, 120187 Buzau, Romania., Cârâc G; Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Department of Chemistry Physical and Environment, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania., Furdui B; Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Department of Chemistry Physical and Environment, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania., Dinica RM; Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Department of Chemistry Physical and Environment, 'Dunărea de Jos' University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania. |
| Abstrakt: |
This study investigated the phytochemical content of alcoholic extracts and essential oil of a new variety of medicinal plants, Agastache foeniculum (Pursh), which Kuntze adapted for cultivation in Romania, namely “Aromat de Buzău”. The essential oil was investigated by GC-MS, while the identification and quantification of various compounds from alcoholic extracts were performed by HPLC-DAD. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were evaluated by using standard phytochemical methods. The antioxidant activities of ethanol, methanol extracts, and essential oil of the plant were also assessed against 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS•+), and by ferric reducing power (FRAP) using spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the essential oil. The concentrations of phenolic compounds were higher in methanolic extract compared to ethanolic extract. A significant correlation was found between total phenol and total flavonoid contents (r = 0.9087). Significant high correlations were also found between the total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activities of the extracts (r ≥ 0.8600, p < 0.05). In addition, the extracts and essential oil showed good antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. Estragole was detected as the major constituent of the essential oil (94.89%). The cytotoxic activity of the essential oil was evaluated by the MTT assay. At lower concentrations (1 µg/mL) high cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells was observed but not on the non-tumoral dermal fibroblasts (HDF) which indicated selectivity for cancer cells and suggests the presence of biologically active components that contribute to the observed high cytotoxic effect. Findings from the present study offer new perspectives on the use of A. foeniculum as a potential source of bioactive compounds and a good candidate for pharmaceutical plant-based products. |
