In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Alhagi marourum Boiss

Leguminosae family is comprised of about 550 genera and more than 13,000 species.1 Alhagi marourum Boiss (Fabaceae) is a species of legume commonly known as camelthorn, camelthorn-bush, Caspian manna and Persian manna plant. A. maurorum is customarily used in folk medicine as a remedy for rheumatic pains, bilharziasis, liver disorders, and for various types of gastrointestinal discomfort. The aim of the current work was to study the radical scavenging, antioxidant and antiproliferative effects against human cancer cell lines of A. maurorum. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 7.6 million deaths in 2008. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 13.1 million in 2030. In particular breast (458 000 deaths) and cervical cancer (275 000 deaths) were the most representative together with prostate cancer that is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States among men.2 250 g of A. maurorum were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus with petroleum ether (PE) and diethyl ether (DE) as solvents. Extracts were subjected to DPPH and -carotene bleaching test using methods previously described.3 PE extract exhibited the most promising radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 34.6 g/mL. In -carotene bleaching test PE extract showed an IC50 value of 41.0 g/mL after 60 min of incubation. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of A. maurorum extracts were investigated against MCF-7, HeLa and LNCaP cell lines using the SRB assay.4 PE extract inhibited highly malignant cervical cancer HeLa cell proliferation with an IC50 value of 40.1 g/mL while DE exhibited an IC50 value of 43.9 g/mL against LNCaP. Preliminary phytochemical investigation evidenced the presence of triterpenes as the main components. Previously, Laghari et al.5 described A. maurorum as a convenient source of lupeol. The superiority of this species over other plant sources of lupeol is due to its wild nature and ability to grow throughout the year. The bioactivity of A. maurorum against LNCaP cells could be explained in terms of lupeol content since this triterpenoid is a potent inhibitor of androgen receptor both in vitro and in vivo.6 References 1 Bolus, L. Medicinal Plants of North Africa. Cairo, Egypt, Reference Publications Inc 2003, 368. 2 WHO. Fact sheet 297. February 2012. 3 Loizzo, M.R., Di Lecce, G., Boselli, E., Bonesi, M., Menichini, F., Menichini, F., Frega, N.G. Int J Food Sci Nutr, 2011 62, 740-749. 4 Loizzo, M.R., Tundis, R., Statti, G., Menichini, F., Houghton. P.J., J Pharm Pharmacol, 2005, 57, 897-902. 5 Laghari, A.H., Memon, S., Nelofar, A., Khan, K.M. Ind Crops Prod, 2011, 34, 1141-1145. 6 Siddique, H.R., Mishra, S.K., Karnes, R.J., Saleem, M. Clin Cancer Res, 2011, 17, 5379-5391.