Evaluation of phenolic profile, antioxidant and anticancer potential of two main representants of Zingiberaceae family against B164A5 murine melanoma cells

Abstract

Background: Curcuma longa Linnaeus and Zingiber officinale Roscoe are two main representatives of Zingiberaceae family studied for a wide range of therapeutic properties, including: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, antibacterial, analgesic, immunomodulatory, proapoptotic, anti-human immunodeficiency virus properties and anticancer effects. This study was aimed to analyse the ethanolic extracts of Curcuma rhizome (Curcuma longa Linnaeus) and Zingiber rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in terms of polyphenols, antioxidant activity and anti-melanoma potential employing the B164A5 murine melanoma cell line.

Results: In order to evaluate the total content of polyphenols we used Folin-Ciocâlteu method. The antioxidant activity of the two ethanolic extracts was determined by DPPH assay, and for the control of antiproliferative effect it was used MTT proliferation assay, DAPI staining and Annexin-FITC-7AAD double staining test. Results showed increased polyphenols amount and antioxidant activity for Curcuma rhizome ethanolic extract. Moreover, 100 μg/ml of ethanolic plant extract from both vegetal products presented in a different manner an antiproliferative, respectively a proapoptotic effect on the selected cell line.

Conclusions: The study concludes that Curcuma rhizome may be a promising natural source for active compounds against malignant melanoma.

Figure 1

Total pholiphenol content (mg P/1 ml extract) as revealed by Folin-Ciocalteu assay for Curcuma rhizome and Zingiber rhizome.

Figure 2

Antioxidant capacity (mM T/1 ml extract) as revealed by DPPH assay for Curcuma rhizome and Zingiber rhizome.

Figure 3

Inhibition index for B164A5 cells as revealed by MTT assay after 48 h incubaton with 100 μg/ml ethanol extract of Curcuma rhizome and Zingiber rhizome.

Figure 4

DAPI staining after 48 h incubaton of B164A5 cells with a) Medium; b) 100 μg/ml ethanol extract of Curcuma rhizome ; c) 100 μg/ml ethanol extract of Zingiber rhizome.

Figure 5

Annexin-FITC-7AAD double staining after 48 h incubaton of B164A5 cells with: a) Medium; b) 100 μg/ml ethanol extract of Curcuma rhizome ; c) 100 μg/ml ethanol extract of Zingiber rhizome ; d) The ensemble image together with statistical analyze of a,b,c.