Bongardia chrysogonum (L.) Spach as a potential medicinal plant against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease management

Abstract

Background and Aims: Bongardia chrysogonum (L.) Spach (Berberidaceae), an ancient medicinal plant in Eastern Mediterranean countries, is traditionally used for the treatment of epilepsy, hemorrhoids, urinary system infections and gastrointestinal disorders. This study was designed to evaluate potential neuroprotective and anticancer effects of different parts from B. chrysogonum. Material and Methods: Leaf, stem, and tuber parts of the plant were extracted and subjected to determine cholinesterase enzyme inhibitory potentials and anticancer activities. Enzyme inhibition assays were carried out to screen neuroprotective potentials, while the MTT assay was performed for evaluating anticancer activities of the extracts towards human lung carcinoma (A549), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), brain glioma (C6), and non-tumorous human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines. Results: Among the tested extracts, the highest enzyme inhibitory activity was exhibited by tuber-water extract (83.81±0.33% and 62.14±0.60% inhibition on AChE and BChE at 400 μg/mL p<0.01, respectively), whilst the lowest enzyme inhibition was exerted by the tuber-chloroform extract. Moreover, the tuber part of the plant was found to have the most cytotoxic activity against all the cancer cells, and the best anticancer activity was determined in tuber ethanol extract against MCF-7 cells (IC50= 28.36±0.04, p<0.01). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first study that assessed the in vitro neuroprotective effect of the aerial parts and tuber extracts of the plant through inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes alongside an anticancer capacity towards human cancer cells. The results revealed that this plant is a good candidate for performing further clinical studies in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords

• Bongardia chrysogonum (L.) Spach
• cancer
• enzyme inhibition
• medicinal plant
• neuroprotection

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