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Article

Flavonoid profile, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of different extracts from Algerian Rhamnus alaternus L. bark

Soulef Boussahel1★, Antonio Speciale2, Saliha Dahamna1, Yacine Amar3, Irene Bonaccorsi3, Francesco Cacciola4, Francesco Cimino2, Paola Donato4, Guido Ferlazzo3, Daoud Harzallah1, Mariateresa Cristani2★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Nature Sciences and Life, University Setif 1, 19000, Algeria, Italy.
  2. 2Department of Drug Sciences and Health Products, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
  3. 3Department of Human Pathology, Laboratory of Immunology and Biotherapy, University of Messina, Italy.
  4. 4Department of Environmental Science, Territorial, Food and Health Security, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.

CORRESPONDENCE

Soulef Boussahel

Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Nature Sciences and Life, University Setif 1, 19000, Algeria, Italy.

specialea@unime.it

Received: 01-08-2014; Revised: 18-09-2014.

Volume 11, Issue 42S · pp. 102–109 · PUBLISHED 27 May 2015 · DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.157707

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ABSTRACT

Background: Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae) L. has been traditionally used for treatment of many diseases. Objective: In this study, we determined the antioxidant/free radical scavenger properties, the flavonoid profile and the cytotoxicity of aqueous and methanolic extracts obtained by maceration from Algerian R. alaternus bark, like also of aqueous extract prepared by decoction according to the traditional method. This to estimate the usefulness of the drug traditional preparation and compare it with those made in the laboratory. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using five different redox-based assays, all involving one redox reaction with the oxidant. High-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify and quantify the fl avonoids content. Cytotoxicity on human monocytic leukemia cells (U937) was also carried out. Results: All the extracts tested showed a good antioxidant/free radical scavenger activity and a similar flavonoid fingerprint. However, the methanolic one presented the best antioxidant activity that can be due to the highest flavonoid amount and significantly reduced the proliferation of leukemia cells. The results confirm that the extract prepared by decoction contains efficient antioxidant compounds and this justifies in part the therapeutic and preventive usefulness. Moreover, the methanolic extract exerted excellent cytotoxicity on U937 that could be attributed to kaempferol and rhamnocitrin glycosides.

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    Boussahel, S., Speciale, A., Dahamna, S., Amar, Y., Bonaccorsi, I., Cacciola, F., Cimino, F., Donato, P., Ferlazzo, G., Harzallah, D., & Cristani, M. (2015). Flavonoid profile, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of different extracts from Algerian Rhamnus alaternus L. bark. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 11(42S), 102–109. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.157707