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Total Antioxidant Potential, Total Phenolic Profile and Cytotoxic Activity Against Brain Cancer: Melocan and
Diaa Al Yassine1, Nourhane El Massri1, Gunnur Demircan2
1Graduate School of Engineering, Bioengineering Program, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Research Background:
Brain cancer is known to be one of the most difficult types of cancer to cure. It has a serious impact on the lives of diagnosed people due to the insufficient treatment options and their side effects. The search for new alternative treatments is therefore ongoing. Melocan (Smilax excelsa L.) and galdirik (Trachystemon orientalis) are of great importance in both traditional culinary culture and traditional medicine around the Black Sea; however, the knowledge about their antioxidant and cytotoxic effects remains fairly limited.
Experimental Approach:
The aim of this study is to determine the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis on the C6 glioblastoma cell line. The plants of Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis were dried and extracted and then their total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic profiles were studied. In addition, their total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) were determined using an assay kit. We also analysed the total antioxidant activity (TAA) using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and the cytotoxic effect on the glioma cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay.
Results And Conclusions:
According to the results, the water extracts of Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis had higher TPC (expressed in gallic acid equivalents on dry mass basis: 1158.17 and 262 mg/100 g, respectively) than the ethanol extracts. TAA expressed in Trolox equivalents on dry mass basis was 192.86 and 131.92 mg/100 g for Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis, respectively. The MTT assay showed that Trachystemon orientalis had a greater cytotoxic effect. In conclusion, the findings of the current study are promising for the development of new drugs.
Novelty And Scientific Contribution:
This is the first study that aims to evaluate the potential cytotoxic activity of two local Turkish plants, Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis, against C6 glioblastoma cells. The results confirm that both plants could be used as good therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer in the future.
Insights
This study investigated the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis on C6 glioblastoma cells. Results show potential for these plants as future cancer therapeutic agents.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Brain cancer presents significant treatment challenges due to limited options and severe side effects.
- Alternative therapies are actively sought to improve outcomes for brain cancer patients.
- Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis, traditional Black Sea plants, have largely uncharacterized medicinal properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis.
- To assess the effects of these plant extracts on the C6 glioblastoma cell line.
- To determine the potential of these plants as novel therapeutic agents for brain cancer.
Main Methods:
- Plant extraction and determination of total phenolic content (TPC).
- Measurement of total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS).
- Assessment of total antioxidant activity (TAA) via DPPH assay and cytotoxic effects using MTT assay on C6 glioblastoma cells.
Main Results:
- Water extracts of both Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis exhibited higher TPC compared to ethanol extracts.
- Smilax excelsa demonstrated higher TAA (192.86 mg/100 g) than Trachystemon orientalis (131.92 mg/100 g).
- Trachystemon orientalis displayed a more pronounced cytotoxic effect on the C6 glioblastoma cell line.
Conclusions:
- Smilax excelsa and Trachystemon orientalis possess significant antioxidant and cytotoxic properties.
- These findings suggest promising potential for developing new anti-cancer drugs from these plant species.
- This research is the first to demonstrate the cytotoxic activity of these specific Turkish plants against glioblastoma cells.
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