Unraveling the chemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic potential of different extracts from Astragalus caraganae

Abstract

Six extracts (water, ethanol, ethanol‐water, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n‐hexane) of Astragalus caraganae were studied for their biological activities and bioactive contents. Based on high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS), the ethanol‐water extract yielded the highest total bioactive content (4242.90 µg g−1), followed by the ethanol and water extracts (3721.24 and 3661.37 µg g−1, respectively), while the least total bioactive content was yielded by the hexane extract, followed by the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts (47.44, 274.68, and 688.89 µg g−1, respectively). Rutin, p‐coumaric, chlorogenic, isoquercitrin, and delphindin‐3,5‐diglucoside were among the major components. Unlike the dichloromethane extracts, all the other extracts showed radical scavenging ability in the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay (8.73–52.11 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g), while all extracts displayed scavenging property in the 2,2‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay (16.18–282.74 mg TE/g). The extracts showed antiacetylcholinesterase (1.27–2.73 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g), antibutyrylcholinesterase (0.20–5.57 mg GALAE/g) and antityrosinase (9.37–63.56 mg kojic acid equivalent [KAE]/g) effects. The molecular mechanism of the H2O2‐induced oxidative stress pathway was aimed to be elucidated by applying ethanol, ethanol/water and water extracts at 200 µg/mL concentration to human dermal cells (HDFs). A. caraganae in HDF cells had neither a cytotoxic nor genotoxic effect but could have a cytostatic effect in increasing concentrations. The findings have allowed a better insight into the pharmacological potential of the plant, with respect to their chemical entities and bioactive contents, as well as extraction solvents and their polarity.

Uncovering chemical profiles, biological potentials, and protection effect against ECM destruction in H2O2‐treated HDF cells of the extracts of Stachys tundjeliensis

“…In this context, 100 µg/mL was chosen as the common concentration at which the extracts did not reduce cell viability below 60% at the same time points. [46] In studies conducted with different species of the Stachys genus in the literature, it has been observed that the genus effectively regulate cell proliferation due to its abundant secondary metabolites. [47][48][49][50] For instance, when Stachys parviflora was applied to the uncontrolled proliferation of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, as well as the prostate cancer cell line PC3, it effectively inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis.…”

“…and demonstrate the effect of S. tundjeliensis on MMPs that may change accordingly. In this context, the ROS mechanism was activated by applying 75 µmol/L of H 2 O 2 to HDF cells for 2 h. [46,67] On the other hand, 250 µg/mL of EGCG was applied to H 2 O 2 -induced HDF cells for 48 h as a positive control. [46,67] In the gel image showing MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in Figure 10a, active MMPs broke down their substrates in their respective areas and formed white lytic bands.…”

“…In the AGE experiment, whose principle is based on the Maillard reaction, they are glycation products formed as a result of a nonenzymatic reaction of sugars with various macro and micro-biomolecules, especially proteins, at a certain temperature and pH. [46,92,93] Glucose was used as a sugar source in the experimental setup and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the protein source. The experimental procedure was carried out by following the steps in previous studies cited in the literature.…”

“…The experimental procedure was carried out by following the steps in previous studies cited in the literature. [46,92,93] Quercetin was used as the reference substance at increasing concentrations from 62.5 to 1000 µg/mL. While ethanol, ethanol/water, and water extracts obtained from the S.…”

“…[46,67,94] To trigger the ROS-driven molecular mechanism in HDF cells, the chemical component hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), which we have previously used and whose concentration we determined in the same cell line, was used. [46,67] The ROS mechanism was activated by applying 75 µmol/L of H 2 O 2 to HDF cells for 2 h. On the other hand, commercially available 250 µg/mL of EGCG, which is known to have a ROS scavenging effect, was applied to H 2 O 2 -induced HDF cells for 48 h and the cells in this group were determined as a positive control. [46,67] HDF cells that were not treated with H 2 O 2 were called control HDF groups.…”