Cytotoxic and antioxidative activities of Plantago lagopus L. and characterization of its bioactive compounds

Bioactivity guided isolation and characterization of phytoconstituents from the aerial parts of Plantago lagopus L. were performed to give a new insight into the usage of Plantago species in traditional medicine. The extract showed strong radical scavenging effects against DPPH, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (SO) radicals comparable to that of known antioxidants 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and quercetin in addition to its cytotoxic activities against HEP-2 (human larynx epidermoid carcinoma) and RD (human rhabdomyosarcoma) cell lines based on MTT assay for growth inhibition. The gallic acid equivalent total phenolic content of the plant was found to be 79.94 mg/g dry extract. Phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside and calceorioside A were isolated from the most active fraction and both compounds showed strong radical scavenging activity against tested radicals and cytotoxicity against HEP-2, RD and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines. In addition apoptotic cell death was observed in histological analysis. Taken together, these findings suggest that verbascoside and calceorioside A may be used in cancer prevention. Verbascoside and its desrhamnosyl derivative calceorioside A from Plantago lagopus showed strong scavenging activity against DPPH, NO and SO radicals and cytotoxicity against Hep-2, RD and MCF-7 cell lines. RD cell line (human rhabdomyosarcoma) was found the most sensitive cell line for the plant and its active constituents. ⺠Plantago species are important source of natural products in all over the world. ⺠Plantago lagopus extract showed strong antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. ⺠From the active fractions, verbascoside and calceorioside A were isolated. ⺠These compounds were found to be responsible for the activities. ⺠The strongest cytotoxicity was observed against human rabdomiyosarcoma cells.