engleski

Screening of biological activity of Centaurea species aqueous extracts

Centaurea species are used as medical plants or as a food in eastern Mediterranean area. The aim of our study was to make a screening of biological activity of twelve different aqueous extracts from seven Croatian Centaurea species: toxicity, antioxidant potential and inhibition of cholinesterases. The antioxidant and toxic properties of plant extracts and their constituents may be used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry. The inhibition of both cholinesterases by plant extracts may lead to a discovery of a potential chemical compound used in Alzheimer disease treatment. Antioxidant capacity of extracts was determined using DPPH and FRAP methods. Inhibition of both acetilcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was determined using Ellman method. Toxicity of Centaurea extracts was measured on primary fibroblasts through the MTT assay. Aqueous extracts (AE) were prepared from wild growing Centaurea ragusina, C. scabiosa, C. solstitialis, C. rupestris, C. alba, C. jacea and C. salonitana. Among the tested aqueous extracts highest acetilcholinesterase inhibition exhibited C. solstitialis already known having chemical compounds responsible for fatal neurological disease in horses. All of the tested Centaurea species aqueous extracts did not show inhibition on butyrylcholinesterase. Centaurea species show low to moderate antioxidant activity of AE. All of 3 AE of C. ragusina presented a higher toxicity than any other species with survival ranging from 10 to 50% at 0.5 g/L. Both AE of C. salonitana showed a slightly less toxic profile with 20 to 30% survival at 1 g/L of extracts. Every other AE showed low toxicity and C. scabiosa, wild edible species, showed no toxicity even at 1g/L of extract. Future investigation of chemical composition should highlight the main compounds in these extracts responsible for those biological activities. As far as previous research showed it is expected that some of the main groups of compounds could be sesquiterpene lactones, phenolic compounds and organic acids. Phenolics in plant extracts are usually responsible for a good in vitro antioxidant potential. Sesquiterpene lactones are usually connected with a toxic properties of Centaurea extracts.

Centaurea, aqueous extracts, biological activity

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