Evaluation of cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of Echium italicum L. in MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines

Dilek Arslan Atessahin; Semih Dalkilic; Lütfiye Kadioglu Dalkilic; Dudu Bayindir; Elif Cetinkaya

doi:10.62313/ijpbp.2025.259

Authors

Dilek Arslan Atessahin Firat University, Baskil Vocational School, Department of Plant and Animal Production, Elazig, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1528-9367
Semih Dalkilic Firat University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Elazig, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6892-247X
Lütfiye Kadioglu Dalkilic Firat University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Elazig, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6791-3811
Dudu Bayindir Firat University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Elazig, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0206-3203
Elif Cetinkaya Firat University, Baskil Vocational School, Department of Plant and Animal Production, Elazig, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5825-6082

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62313/ijpbp.2025.259

Keywords:

Cytotoxic activity, Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant activity, MCF-7 cell line, HepG2 cell line, Echium italicum

Abstract

The use of plants for medicinal purposes from past to present continues as traditional treatments. One of these plants, Echium species, is known for its high phytochemical content and its use as a sedative or in colds. In this study, the antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer properties of Echium italicum L. were investigated. Its anticancer effect was tested in HepG2 (liver cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines. Its antimicrobial effect was also investigated in Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that the highest cytotoxic effect was observed in the HepG2 cell line with 23% dead cell count. This suggests that the plant is especially effective in liver cancer cell lines. It was found that the extract prepared in hexane had the largest inhibition zone diameter (15 mm) against C. albicans in terms of antibacterial activity. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed in methanol extract with 37.6%. Considering the IC₅₀ value in DPPH, hexane extract exhibited better activity than methanol extract (IC₅₀ = 20.7 µg/ml). The data obtained from the study indicate that E. italicum has cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. It is thought that the present study may contribute to the development and design of new anticancer and antimicrobial drugs, especially in the field of cancer research and pharmacology. In addition, it was concluded that the studies on the medical potential of E. italicum should be expanded and more comprehensive studies should be conducted.

References

Abbaszadeh, S., Rajabian, T., & Taghizadeh, M. (2013). Antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid contents of Echium species from different geographical locations of Iran. Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-Products, 2(1), 23-31. https://doi.org/10.22092/jmpb.2013.108487

Acıbuca, V., & Budak, D. B. (2018). Dünya’da ve Türkiye’de tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerin yeri ve önemi. Çukurova Tarım ve Gıda Bilimleri Dergisi, 33(1), 37-44.

Ahvazi, M., Khalighi-Sigaroodi, F., Charkhchiyan, M. M., Mojab, F., Mozaffarian, V. A., & Zakeri, H. (2012). Introduction of medicinal plants species with the most traditional usage in Alamut region. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 11(1), 185-194.

Albreht, A., Vovk, I., Simonovska, B., & Srbinoska, M. (2009). Identification of shikonin and its ester derivatives from the roots of Echium italicum L. Journal of Chromatography A, 1216(15), 3156-3162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2009.01.098 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2009.01.098

Arslan Ateşşahin, D., Dalkılıç, L. K., Özeren, Y., Dalkılıç, S., Çakmak, K., & Çiçek, T. A. (2023). Investigation of Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Echium vulgare L. Seed. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences, 7(2), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.47947/ijnls.1379179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47947/ijnls.1379179

Aytar, M., Oryaşın, E., Başbülbül, G., & Bozdoğan, B. (2019). Agar Well Difüzyon Yönteminde Standardizasyon Çalişmasi. Bartın University International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2(2), 138-145.

Balouiri, M., Sadiki, M., & Ibnsouda, S. K. (2016). Methods for in vitro evaluating antimicrobial activity: A review. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 6(2), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2015.11.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2015.11.005

Bekhradnia, S., & Ebrahimzadeh, M. A. (2016). Antioxidant activity of Echium amoenum. Revista de Chimie, 67(2), 223-226.

Boskovic, I., Dukić, D., Mandic, L., Mašković, P., & Govedarica-Lucic, A. (2021). Antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of selected plant species of the Boraginaceae family. SCIDAR - A Digital Archive of the University of Kragujevac. https://doi.org/10.17707/AgricultForest.67.2.04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17707/AgricultForest.67.2.04

Boškovic, I., Đukić, D., Mašković, P., & Mandić, L. (2017). Phytochemical composition and biological activity of Echium italicum L. plant extracts. Bulgarian Chemical Communications, 49(4), 836-845.

Cuendet, M., Hostettmann, K., Potterat, O., & Dyatmiko, W. (1997). Iridoid glucosides with free radical scavenging properties from Fagraea blumei. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 80(4), 1144-1152. https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19970800411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19970800411

Dalkılıç, S., Dalkılıç, L. K., Küçüktüfekçi, M. C., Ateşşahin, D. A., Çelik, A., Gülaçar, Ö., & Çil, A. (2023). Determination of cytotoxic, apoptotic, necrotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Aloe vera and Abies cilicia subsp. cilicica. International Journal of Plant Based Pharmaceuticals, 3(2), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.29228/ijpbp.29 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29228/ijpbp.29

Eruygur, N. (2018). A simple isocratic high-perfomance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of shikonin derivatives in some Echium species growing wild in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15(1), 38-43. https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.40316 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.40316

Eruygur, N., Yılmaz, G., Kutsal, O., Yücel, G., & Üstün, O. (2016). Bioassay-guided isolation of wound healing active compounds from Echium species growing in Turkey. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 185, 370-376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.02.045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.02.045

Fazilati, M., & Dousti, B. (2019). Evaluation of the Antifungal effects of various Extracts of the Aerial part and Root of Echium italicum on Candida albicans compared with two common antibiotics. Yafteh, 21(1), 122-134.

Kaptaner İğci, B., & Aytac, Z. (2020). An investigation on the in vitro wound healing activity and phytochemical composition of Hypericum pseudolaeve N. Robson growing in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17(6), 610–619. https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.galenos.2019.80037 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.galenos.2019.80037

Karakaş, F. P., Yildirim, A., & Türker, A. (2012). Biological screening of various medicinal plant extracts for antibacterial and antitumor activities. Turkish Journal of Biology, 36(6), 641-652. https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1203-16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1203-16

Kirby, A. J., & Schmidt, R. J. (1997). The antioxidant activity of Chinese herbs for eczema and of placebo herbs—I. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 56(2), 103-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(97)01510-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(97)01510-9

Morteza-Semnani, K., Saeedi, M., & Akbarzadeh, M. (2009). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Echium italicum L. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 12(5), 557-561. https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2009.10643757 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2009.10643757

Mosmann, T. (1983). Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. Journal of Immunological Methods, 65(1-2), 55-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1759(83)90303-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1759(83)90303-4

Naseri, N., Kalantar, K., & Amirghofran, Z. (2018). Anti-inflammatory activity of Echium amoenum extract on macrophages mediated by inhibition of inflammatory mediators and cytokines expression. Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 13(1), 73-81. https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-5362.220970 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-5362.220970

Naveed, M., Mahmood, S., Aziz, T., Azeem, A., Rajpoot, Z., Rehman, S. U., Al-Asmari, F., Alahmari, A. S., Saleh, O., & Sameeh, M. Y. (2024). Green-synthesis of silver nanoparticles AgNPs from Podocarpus macrophyllus for targeting GBM and LGG brain cancers via NOTCH2 gene interactions. Scientific Reports, 14, 25489. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75820-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75820-4

Nićiforović, N., Mihailović, V., Mašković, P., Solujić, S., Stojković, A., & Muratspahić, D. P. (2010). Antioxidant activity of selected plant species; potential new sources of natural antioxidants. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 48(11), 3125-3130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2010.08.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2010.08.007

Özcan, T., & Süzerer, V. (2020). Variation of some seed oil components at altitidunal range in a widely distributed species, Echium italicum L.(Boraginaceae) from Turkey. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 11(4), 540-550.

Petrovska, B. B. (2012). Historical review of medicinal plants’ usage. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(11), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849

Shah, S. W. A., Siddique Afridi, M., Ur-Rehman, M., Hayat, A., Sarwar, A., Aziz, T., Alharbi, M., Alshammari, A., & Alasmari, A. F. (2023). In-vitro evaluation of phytochemicals, heavy metals and antimicrobial activities of leaf, stem and roots extracts of Caltha palustris var. alba. Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society, 68(1), 5807-5812. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-97072023000105807 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-97072023000105807

Shariatifar, N., Fathabad, A. E., & Madihi, S. (2016). Antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Echium amoenum on food-borne pathogens. Journal of Food Safety and Hygiene, 2(3-4), 63-66.

Uysal, İ., Mohammed, F. S., Şabik, A. E., Kına, E., & Sevindik, M. (2021). Antioxidant and Oxidant status of medicinal plant Echium italicum collected from different regions. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology, 9(10), 1902-1904. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v9i10.1902-1904.4588 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v9i10.1902-1904.4588

Waseem, M., Naveed, M., Rehman, S. U., Makhdoom, S. I., Aziz, T., Alharbi, M., Alsahammari, A., & Alasmari, A. F. (2023). Molecular characterization of spa, hld, fmhA, and l ukD Genes and computational modeling the multidrug resistance of staphylococcus species through Callindra harrisii silver nanoparticles. ACS Omega, 8(23), 20920-20936. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c01597 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c01597

Xu, Z., & Deng, M. (2017). Boraginaceae (Vol. 3): Zhejiang University Press, Springer.

Zare, K., Khosrowshahli, M., Nazemiyeh, H., Movafeghi, A., Azar, A. M., & Omidi, Y. (2011). Callus culture of Echium italicum L. towards production of a shikonin derivative. Natural Product Research, 25(16), 1480-1487. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410902804857 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410902804857