Antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of Alhagi maurorum Boiss (Leguminosae) aerial parts

This work is aimed to investigate the antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of Alhagi maurorum, alegume used as natural sweetener. Diethyl ether (DE) and petroleum ether (PE) extracts were analyzed fortheir chemical composition by GC–MS analysis. Both extract were further investigated for their potentialcytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. DE extract, char-acterized by fatty acids and coumarins as main constituents, showed the strongest activity against C32melanoma cell line with an IC50 value of 2.7 microg/ml. For antioxidant investigation different in vitro sys-tems, namely 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS*+), -carotene bleaching test, ferric reducing ability power assay (FRAP) and Fe-chelating activityassay were employed. DE extract showed the highest radical scavenging activity against ABTS radicalwith an IC50 value of 4.7 microg/ml. This extract was also able to reduce the metal transition ion iron with aFRAP value of 69.6 M Fe(II)/g that is comparable to the positive control butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)(63.2 M Fe(II)/g). These biological properties may be of interest from a functional point of view and topropose an alternative use of this edible legume.