Glucosinolate profile and antiproliferative properties of the resurrection plant Anastatica hierochuntica (True Rose...

Anastatica hierochuntica L., a desert plant used in traditional medicine, had not been comprehensively characterised for its glucosinolate (GSL) content and associated bioactivity. GSLs were identified and quantified by UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS using their desulfo-counterparts. Volatile breakdown products were analysed by GC-MS after hydrodistillation and enzymatic hydrolysis. Antipro-liferative activity of the volatile fractions was evaluated on human ovarian and cervical cancer cell lines. The major constituent in roots and aerial parts was 3-(methylsulfinyl)propyl GSL (glucoiberin; 1.49 and 35.46 μmol/g DW, respectively), with its deoxygenated analogue, 3-(methylsulfanyl)propyl GSL (glucoibervirin), present in low amounts. Desulfoglucoiberin was structurally confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. GC-MS identified 3-(methylsulfanyl)propyl isothiocyanate, derived from glucoibervirin during hydrodistillation, and 3-(methylsulfinyl)propyl isothiocyanate, formed by enzymatic breakdown of glucoiberin, as the principal volatiles. The volatile fraction obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis showed the strongest antiproliferative effect after 72 h, with IC₅₀ values of 33.06 μg/mL against SiHa cells and 34.55 μg/mL against SK-OV-3 cells.