Maritime halophyte species from southern Portugal as sources of bioactive molecules.

Abstract

Extracts of five halophytes from southern Portugal (Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Mesembryanthemum edule, Juncus acutus, Plantago coronopus and Halimione portulacoides), were studied for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and in vitro antitumor properties. The most active extracts towards the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical were the methanol extracts of M. edule (IC₅₀ = 0.1 mg/mL) and J. acutus (IC₅₀ = 0.4 mg/mL), and the ether extracts of J. acutus (IC₅₀ = 0.2 mg/mL) and A. macrostachyum (IC₅₀ = 0.3 mg/mL). The highest radical scavenging activity (RSA) against the 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical was obtained in the ether extract of J. acutus (IC₅₀ = 0.4 mg/mL) and H. portulacoides (IC₅₀ = 0.9 mg/mL). The maximum total phenolic content (TPC) was found in the methanol extract of M. edule (147 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g) and in the ether extract of J. acutus (94 mg GAE/g). Significant decreases in nitric oxide (NO) production were observed after incubation of macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the chloroform extract of H. portulacoides (IC₅₀ = 109 µg/mL) and the hexane extract of P. coronopus (IC₅₀ = 98.0 µg/mL). High in vitro cytotoxic activity and selectivity was obtained with the ether extract of J. acutus. Juncunol was identified as the active compound and for the first time was shown to display selective in vitro cytotoxicity towards various human cancer cells.

• Authors: Maria João Rodrigues, Katkam N Gangadhar, Catarina Vizetto-Duarte, Sileshi G Wubshet, Nils T Nyberg, Luísa Barreira, João Varela, Luísa Custódio
• Journal: Marine drugs (Mar Drugs) Vol. 12 Issue 4 Pg. 2228-44 (Apr 10 2014) ISSN: 1660-3397 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 24727393 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Antioxidants
• Biphenyl Compounds
• Free Radical Scavengers
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Phenols
• Picrates
• Plant Extracts
• Nitric Oxide
• 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Antioxidants (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Biphenyl Compounds (pharmacology)
• Cell Line
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Free Radical Scavengers (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Inhibitory Concentration 50
• Lipopolysaccharides (pharmacology)
• Macrophages (drug effects, metabolism)
• Mice
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Phenols (chemistry, isolation & purification)
• Picrates (pharmacology)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Portugal
• Salt-Tolerant Plants (chemistry)