Trigonella teheranica: a valuable source of phytochemicals with antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic properties.

Trigonella genus is a member of Fabaceae family, which is used as medicinal plant. The aim of this study was investigation of phytochemicals and some biological activities of Trigonella teheranica for the first time. The essential oils (EOs) of different parts (leaves, fruits and roots) were obtained and analyzed by GC-MS. Also, their chloroform and methanol extracts were prepared, too. The antimicrobial effects, antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effects against cancer (MDA-MB-231, MRC5 and HT-29) cell lines were investigated. N-hexadecanoic acid was the major compound of leaves and fruits EOs, and hexanal was abundant component of roots EO. The extracts showed stronger antibacterial effects than volatile oils against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. All methanol extracts showed strong antioxidant effects, while the volatile oils, especially of leaves was the most effective in cytotoxic assay. Also, three derivatives of coumaric acid were isolated and identified from T. teheranica.

Biological Evaluation of the Isolated Compounds from Methanol Fraction of Leutea avicennia Mozaff.

Leutea avicennia Mozaff. That belongs to Apiaceae family is an endemic species distributed in the west of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and acetylcholinestrase (AChE) inhibition of the crude extract, fractions, and isolated compounds from methanol fraction of L. avicenniae. Five compounds were detected from methanol fraction; three phenolic compounds as p-coumric acid, caffeic acid, salicylic acid and also, two flavonoids as quercetin and astragalin. These structures were identified by spectroscopic techniques such as 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and UV. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the free radical scavenging assay using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl- hydrazyl (DPPH) method. Ellman colorimetric method was used to determine acetylcholinestrase (AChE) inhibition. In the DPPH assay, Quercetin exerted the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 10.24 ± 1.3 µg/mL). Caffeic acid inhibited AChE with IC50 = 12.06 ± 2.01µg/mL which were comparable to Galanthamine as positive control (IC50 = 62.44 ± 2.2µg/mL). In conclusion, methanol extract of L. avicenniae contains bioactive components with antioxidant and AChE inhibitory effects.