Methanolic extract from Lespedeza bicolor: potential candidates for natural antioxidant and anticancer agent

To evaluate the anticancer, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities along with total phenolic and flavonoids contents extracted from Lespedeza bicolor indigenous to Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Pakistan.

Anticancer activity against human lung carcinoma (LU-1) and human prostate carcinoma (LnCap), antimicrobial against Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, Mucor sp Klebsiella pneumonia and Enterococcus and antioxidant activity on 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and Hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging activity were assessed in methanol extract of Lespedeza bicolor.

Lespedeza bicolor aerial parts and root extract showed IC50 value of 12.5 and 50 μg/mL against LU-1 whereas, ≤ 12.5 and 12 ug/mL were calculated against LnCap cell line. Minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) value of 20-35 ug/mL has been observed against Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani and Mucor sp in comparision with 1-2.5 ug/mL of Terbinafine used as a standard fungicide. MIC value of 20 and 35 ug/mL of Lespedeza bicolor aerial parts and root extract against bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumonia and 20-50 ug/mL against Enterococcus has been measured. DPPH radical scavenging activity of Lespedeza bicolor with IC50 values of ≤ 50 ug/mL and ≤ 200 ug/mL was observed whereas, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity with IC50 values of ≤ 25 ug/mL for aerial parts and ≤50 ug/mL for the root extract of Lespedeza bicolor has been shown.

These data suggested that the methanolic extract of Lespedeza bicolor could be potential candidates for natural antioxidants and anticancer.