Cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of Ebenus boissieri Barbey on breast cancer cells.

We aimed to determine the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of the roots and aerial parts of Ebenus boissieri (EB) on breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells and the non-cancerous human embryonic kidney cell line, 293T. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, trypan blue exclusion, and Live/Dead Viability/Cytotoxicity assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by measuring the activity of caspase-2, 3, 6, 8, and 9. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-g release was assayed by ELISA, and protein expression of caspase-3, TNF-a, and IFN-g was determined by western blot. The results of this study revealed that MDA-MB231 cell viability was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by the aerial and root extract of EB at 72 h with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 41.1 ± 2.76 and 65 ± 1.09 µg/mL, respectively. In contrast, neither the aerial nor the root extracts of this plant inhibited the proliferation of 293T cells at doses up to 1000 µg/mL. There was a time-dependent increase in caspase activity, especially caspase-3 and caspase-9. The levels of TNF-aand IFN-g significantly increased in MDA-MB231 cells treated with aerial extract. In conclusion, the extracts of EB induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by altering the levels of caspases, TNF-a, and IFN-g. The components and precise modes of action of EB have not yet been determined. However, potential antitumor and immunomodulatory activity was observed along with selectivity against cancer cells in vitro, suggesting that hydroalcoholic extracts of this plant are worthy of additional study.

Phytochemical analysis of the essential oils of 10 endemic Cephalaria species from Turkey.

The volatile composition of 10 endemic Cephalaria (Dipsacaceae) species (Cephalaria gazipashensis, Cephalaria lycica, Cephalaria paphlagonica, Cephalaria elmaliensis, Cephalaria stellipilis, Cephalaria scoparia, Cephalaria isaurica, Cephalaria cilicica, Cephalaria elazigensis var. purpurea and Cephalaria davisiana) was investigated. The essential oil mixtures were obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. Twenty-eight components were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. While total volatile percentages ranged from 68.99% to 84.57%, the total essential oil yields ranged between 38.15% and 64.05%. Geraniol, α-cedrene and p-cymene were determined as the main components. Geraniol was detected as a major component in C. cilicica (14.64%), and α-cedrene was detected as a major component with 26.03% for C. lycica, 16.93% for C. scoparia, 13.01% for C. davisiana and 10.94% for C. paphlagonica. Cephalaria scoparia, C. davisiana and C. gazipashensis have considerable amount of p-cymene as 12.86%, 12.70% and 11.16%, respectively. This was the first essential oil report concerning the Cephalaria genus.

Two acylated flavonoid glycosides from Stachys bombycina, and their free radical scavenging activity.

Preparative reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Stachys bombycina (Lamiaceae) afforded two acylated flavonoids glycosides, chrysoeriol 7-O-[6-O-acetyl-beta-D-allopyranosyl]-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and apigenin 7-O-beta-D-(6-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (2), the former being a new natural product. The structures of these compounds were elucidated unambiguously by UV spectroscopic analyses using shift reagents, ESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. The free radical scavenging activity of 1 and 2 compounds were assessed by DPPH assay, and the RC50 values were 1.25 x 10(-2) and 7.69 x 10(-4) mg/mL, respectively.