HPLC–DAD phenolic profile, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica (Jacq.) Tutin. (Cucurbitaceae)

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica (Jacq.) Tutin. (B. dioica) aqueous and methanolic extracts along with the exploration of their phenolic metabolites. The phenolic profile was established using HPLC–DAD. Phosphomolybdate, DPPH, FRAP, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory potential was investigated through human red blood cells (HRBC) stabilization, albumin denaturation, and proteinase inhibition assays, while the anticancer efficiency was estimated through cell viability assay (MTT) on four different cell lines. Our results showed that 16 phenolic metabolites were identified in both extracts with predominance of rosmarinic acid, coumarin, quercetin, rutin, and caffeic acid. Moreover, B. dioica extracts exhibited an important biological activity. Indeed, the aqueous extract of B. dioica roots showed the highest free radical-scavenging capacity of 57.36 ± 0.91% and IC₅₀ of 385 ± 0.04 μg/mL. Whereas, the methanolic extract exhibited the best HRBC membrane stabilization percentage (69.90 ± 0.17%) at 500 μg/mL. Surprisingly, B. dioica extracts showed important anticancer activity against HT-29 cell line recording an IC₅₀ values of 1.45 ± 0.016 and 1.50 ± 0.042 log₁₀ µg/mL for the methanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Keeping in view the promising biological potential of this specie, we suggest B. dioica roots as potential source of natural bioactive molecules possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and especially anticancer effect.