Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Fumaria parviflora Lam. and Fumaria capreolata L.

This study was carried out to examine the in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of methanol extracts of Fumaria parviflora Lam. and Fumaria capreolata. Antioxidant assays carried out by employing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and phosphomolybdate assays. Cell viability was quantified by employing MTT assay for 24, 48 and 72 h of exposures to 25-250 mu gmL(-1) concentrations of the extracts. F. parviflora methanol extract possessed the highest antioxidant activities in both free DPPH scavenging and total antioxidant capacity assays. Results from MTT assay revealed that F. capreolata methanol extract significantly increased the cell proliferation in human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cells after 24 and 48 hours of treatment. After 72 hours of treatment, methanol extract slightly inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B cell lines, in a time-and dose-dependent manner. While F. parviflora extract had the highest cytotoxic effect on Hep3B cells after 72 hours of the treatment. F. capreolata did not cause any significant cytotoxic effect on these cell lines.