Biological properties of different extracts of two Senecio species

This study reports on the antioxidant, anti-diabetic and cytotoxic properties of different extractsof two Senecio species, Senecio vulgaris and Senecio inaequidens. Leaves of the latter are used asfood in specific populations of Southern of Africa. Both investigated species of Senecio werefound to possess different biological activities. S. inaequidens extracts possess a greaterantioxidant activity in comparison with S. vulgaris . Highly significant and dose-dependentperformance was obtained with the methanolic and dichloromethane extracts of S. vulgaris andthe n-hexane extract of S. inaequidens regarding cytotoxic activity on cancer cell lines, whilenone of the extracts demonstrated activity on normal cell line MRC-5. Both Senecio species alsoshow appreciable a-amylase inhibition, particularly the methanolic and dichloromethaneextracts, and this may confer anti-diabetic properties on the extract.