Isolation, characterization and anticancer activity of secondary metabolites from Verbascum speciosum.

Herein, two iridoid glucosides aucubin (1) and ajugol (2), and two phenyl ethanoids, verbascoside (3) and poliumoside (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Verbascum speciosum and used to study about their anticancer activity for the first time. The structures of all compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic data (IR, 1D and 2D NMR, LC-TOF/MS). Antiproliferative activities of Aucubun (1) and Verbascoside (3) were tested against A-549 (human colon cancer), MDA-MD-453 (human breast cancer) and 3T3-L1 (mouse fibroblast)cell lines by XTT assay. In addition, the anticarcer mechanism of action of aucubin (1) was investigated on MDA-MB-453 cells for the first time. XTT result showed that both applied compounds exhibited antiproliferative effect at different dose ranges depending on the cancer type, as well as selectivity between cancer and healty cell lines. Flow cytometry analyzes revealed that aucubin (1) exerts its cytotoxic effect in MDA-MB-453 cells by directing cells to early apoptosis and inhibiting the P13K/AKT signaling pathway.

Chemical profile and biological activities of Veronica thymoides subsp. pseudocinerea.

CONTEXT: In Turkey, Veronica species (Plantaginaceae) have been used as a diuretic and for wound healing in traditional medicine. OBJECTIVE: To examine the fatty acid and essential oil profiles, the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial, and DNA damage effects of Veronica thymoides P.H. Davis subsp. pseudocinerea M.A. Fischer as a potential source of natural active compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GC/MS was used to analyze essential oil and fatty acid obtained from whole plant. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ß-carotene-linoleic acid test system, DPPH-free and ABTS cation radicals scavenging, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays. The anticholinesterase and antimicrobial activities were determined by Ellman and broth macrodillution methods, respectively. The effect of the methanol extract on DNA cleavage was investigated. RESULTS: Hexatriacontene (21.0%) was found to be the main constituent in essential oil, and linoleic acid (25.2%) and palmitic acid (20.6%) in fatty acid. Methanol extract demonstrated the best IC50 values in lipid peroxidation (49.81 ± 0.31 µg/ml) and DPPH-free radical scavenging activity (15.32 ± 0.17 µg/ml). Methanol and water extracts possessed strong ABTS cation radical scavenging activity with IC50 values 9.15 ± 0.28 and 8.90 ± 0.1 µg/ml, respectively. The acetone extract exhibited moderate butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The highest antimicrobial activity was determined in methanol extract against Escherichia coli with 31.25 µg/ml MIC value. Inhibition of methanol extract on plasmid DNA cleavage by OH radicals was found to be 93.32% at 500 µg/ml. CONCLUSION: The methanol extract having strong antioxidant and DNA damage effects could be investigated phytochemically to find natural active compounds.