Screening of in vitro cytotoxicity and antioxidant potential of selected endemic plants in Turkey

In the present study, we evaluated antioxidant and cytotoxicity potentials of Astragalus tokatensis Fisch., Helichrysum noeanum Boiss. and Stachys huber-morathii R. Bhattacharjee, endemic plant species in Turkey. We measured DPPH scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of the extracts were evaluated on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). In the analysis of total phenol content, the water extract of S. huber-morathii had the highest value (116.34 mu g gallic acid equivalent/mg extract). The highest total flavonoid content (83.39 mu g quercetin equivalent/mg extract) was in the water extract of H. noeanum. Considering the DPPH scavenging and metal chelating activities, water extracts of H. noeanum (33.13 mg/L) and S. huber-morathii (49.00 mg/L) showed the lowest IC50 values. When cytotoxic activities on MCF-7 cells were examined, the water extract of H. noeanum stood out with the lowest IC50 value (96.94 mg/L).