Hepatoprotective, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Effects of theTragopogon porrifoliusMethanolic Extract

Abstract

Tragopogon porrifolius (Asteraceae), commonly referred to as white salsify, is an edible herb used in Lebanese folk medicine to treat cancer and liver dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of Tragopogon porrifolius methanolic extract, both in vitro and in vivo, in addition to its hepatoprotective and anticancer activities. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured and found to be 37.0 ± 1.40 mg GAE/g and 16.6 ± 0.42 mg QE/g dry weight, respectively. In vitro antioxidant assays revealed an FRAP value of 659 ± 13.8 µmol Fe2+/g of extract and DPPH IC50 value 15.2 µg/mL. In rats subjected to CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, significant increase in CAT, SOD, and GST levels was detected. The highest dose of the extract (250 mg/kg) recorded a fold increase of 1.68 for SOD, 2.49 for GST, and 3.2 for CAT. The extract also showed substantial decrease in AST (57%), ALT (56%), and LDH (65%) levels. Additionally, the extract caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability and proliferation. In conclusion, the methanolic extract of T. porrifolius displayed a relatively high antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo as well as hepatoprotective potential against liver toxicity in rats and anticancer effect on MDA-MB-231 and Caco-2 cells.

Anticancer Activity, Antioxidant Activity, and Phenolic and Flavonoids Content of Wild Tragopogon porrifolius Plant Extracts

“…The results showed that Tragopogon porrifolius plant investigated in this study are richer with phenolic compounds (87.3 to 145.3 mg/g) than that from Turkey (from 63.4 to 68.9 mg/g caffeic acid) [4] or from Lebanon (37.0 mgGAE/g) [1]. …”

“…It was interesting to compare TFC of Tragopogon porrifolius plant analyzed in this study (range: 4.8–28.5 mg/g) with that from other countries (4 to 210 mg/g quercetin for Tragopogon porrifolius from Turkey [4] and 16.6 mg/g quercetin for Tragopogon porrifolius from Lebanon [1]).…”

“…Tragopogon porrifolius is grown in the wild and cultivated in the Mediterranean regions [1]. Every part of the plant including the roots, leafy shoots, and open flowers are edible [1].…”

“…Tragopogon porrifolius is grown in the wild and cultivated in the Mediterranean regions [1]. Every part of the plant including the roots, leafy shoots, and open flowers are edible [1]. The nutritional value of this plant has been attributed to its monounsaturated and essential fatty acids, vitamins, and polyphenols [2, 3].…”

“…Also, the extract of the aerial part of the plant was tested on rats with normal and damaged liver. Results were progressive on both rats on the levels of the liver antioxidants enzymes [1]. Mojarrab et al 2014 [11] studied antioxidant activity and TPC of hydroethanolic extract of Tragopogon buphthalmoides from Iran.…”