DNA cleavage, cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of Cistus laurifolius L. extracts

In this study, extracts of the root, branch and leaf parts of Cistus laurifolius L. were prepared using hexane, methylene chloride and ethanol solvents. DNA cleavage, cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of the prepared extracts were then investigated. The cytotoxic properties of the extracts were investigated in A549, DU-145, PNT-1A, MDA-MB231, CRL-4010 and HCT-116 cell lines. Among all prepared extracts, T4 (seed-methylene chloride) extract showed cytotoxic effects on more cancer cell lines compared to other extracts. Antioxidant tests were performed by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil) radical scavenging and Folin-Ciocalteu methods. In both tests, it was determined that T7 (seed-ethanol) extract has a very strong antioxidant effect (IC50 = 0,000015 mu g/ ml for the DPPH method). In DNA cleavage studies, the results obtained confirm the protection of DNA from hydroxyl radical damage in the presence of methanolic plant extracts. Consequently, we determined that some of the Cistus laurifolius L. extracts have significant biological properties on the studied cell lines.