In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities

Yaşar Kıran; Lütfiye Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç; Gülden Doğan; Semih Dalkılıç; Elif Nur Ayaz

In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities

Abstract

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were studied for the methanol, hexane and chloroform extracts from the leaves of Aronia melanocarpa. The antimicrobial activity was tested for five microorganisms by the agar well diffusion method, the antioxidant activity was estimated by the DPPH assay, the cytotoxic effects were determined for the HepG2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines by the MTT test. Methanol extract possessed the most pronounced antibacterial activity providing an inhibition zone of 17 mm for Bacillus megaterium and 16 mm for Escherichia coli. Chloroform extract showed the highest cytotoxic activity (78% for HepG2 cells and 40% for MCF-7 cells at 1000 μg/mL). In the DPPH test, the chloroform extract had the best radical scavenging activity (21% at 0.2 mg/mL). However, the antioxidant activity of all the studied extracts was rather weak. Thus, the results obtained confirm that the leaves of Aronia melanocarpa can serve as a good source for bioactive substances with antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties.

Keywords

Project Number

1919B012219458

Ethical Statement

No ethical approval is required.

Thanks

We would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for their financial support.

References

Alberto, M. R., Rinsdahl Canavosio, M. A., & Manca de Nadra, M. C. (2006). Antimicrobial effect of polyphenols from apple skins on human bacterial pathogens. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 9(Special Issue). https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-34582006000300006
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). (2011). Clinical Cancer Advances: ASCO’s annual report on progress against cancer.
Ateşşahin, D. A., 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 Natural and Life Sciences, 7, 129–135.
Aytar, M., Oryaşın, E., Başbülbül, G., & Bozdoğan, B. (2019). Standardization study in agar well diffusion method. Bartın University International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 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, 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2015.11.005
Benvenuti, S., Pellati, F., Melegari, M., & Bertelli, D. (2004). Polyphenols, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, and radical scavenging activity of Rubus, Ribes, and Aronia. Journal of Food Science, 69, 164–169. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2004.tb13352.x
Büyükpamukçu, M., Sarialioğlu, F., Akyüz, C., & Çevik, N. (1987). Combined chemotherapy in 76 children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma excluding Burkitt's lymphoma. British Journal of Cancer, 56, 625–628. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1987.255
Choi, H. S., Kim, S. L., Kim, J. H., Deng, H. Y., Yun, B. S., & Lee, D. S. (2018). Triterpene acid (3-O-p-coumaroyltormentic acid) isolated from Aronia extracts inhibits breast cancer stem cell formation through downregulation of c-Myc protein. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19, 2528. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19092528

Cvetanović, A., Zengin, G., Zeković, Z., Gajić, J., Ražić, S., Damjanović, A., Mašković, P., & Mitić, M. (2018). Comparative in vitro studies of the biological potential and chemical composition of stems, leaves and berries Aronia melanocarpa extracts obtained by subcritical water extraction. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 121, 458–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.09.045
Çerçi, N. A., Külahcı, M. B., Aydin, B., Beyzi, E., Arslan, A., & Demir, S. (2024). Determination of the biological activities of Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott fruit and leaf extracts. Gazi University Journal of Science Faculty, 5, 3138.
Dalkılıç, L. K. (2024). Investigation of antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of Cydonia oblonga leaf on breast cancer (MCF-7) and liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines. Turkish Journal of Science and Technology, 19, 13–23.
Dalkılıç, S., Korkmaz, I., Dalkılıç, L. K., Akay, G., & Fidan, S. (2022). In vitro cytotoxic effects of Smilax aspera L. roots on cancer cell lines. Food Bioscience, 46, 101501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2021.101501
Dalkılıç, S., Dalkılıç, L. K., Fidan, S., Timurkaan, M., Uygur, L., Akay, G., & Korkmaz, I. (2023). Mentha pulegium extracts showed strong antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects in vitro. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of Agriculture and Nature, 26, 1291–1304. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1192081
Eskimez, I., & Polat, M. (2023). Effects of plant growth regulators on micropropagation of Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott). Fruit Sciences, 10, 92–99.
Fidancı, A. (2015). Türkiye için yeni bir minör meyve: A new minor fruit for Türkiye: Aronia plant and cultivation techniques. In Proceedings of the VII National Horticultural Congress, Horticulture (Special Issue, 1), 1177–1180.
Grela, E., Kozłowska, J., & Grabowiecka, A. (2018). Current methodology of MTT assay in bacteria: A review. Acta Histochemica, 120, 303–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acthis.2018.03.007
İnci, Ş., Dalkılıç, L. K., Dalkılıç, S., & Kırbağ, S. (2019). Antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of Helvella leucomelaena (Pers.) Nannf. Artvin Çoruh University Faculty of Forestry Journal, 20, 249–253.
Jakobek, L., Šeruga, M., Medvidović-Kosanović, M., & Novak, I. (2007). Antioxidant activity and polyphenols of Aronia in comparison to other berry species. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, 72, 301–306.
Jurikova, T., Mlcek, J., Skrovankova, S., Sumczynski, D., Sochor, J., Hlavacova, I., Snopek, L., & Orsavova, J. (2017). Fruits of black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa in the prevention of chronic diseases. Molecules, 22, 944. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22060944
Kaptaner İğci, B., & Aytaç, 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, 610–619. https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.galenos.2019.80037
Karakaş, D., Arı, F., & Ulukaya, E. (2017). The MTT viability assay yields strikingly false-positive viabilities although the cells are killed by some plant extracts. Turkish Journal of Biology, 41, 919–925. https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1703-104
Kedzierska, M., Olas, B., Wachowicz, B., Stochmal, A., Oleszek, W., Jeziorski, A., & Piekarski, J. (2010). The nitrative and oxidative stress in blood platelets isolated from breast cancer patients: The protectory action of Aronia melanocarpa extract. Platelets, 21, 541–548. https://doi.org/10.3109/09537104.2010.492534
Kulling, S. E., & Rawel, H. M. (2008). Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa): A review on the characteristic components and potential health effects. Planta Medica, 74, 1625–1634. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1088306
Lee, J. E., Kim, G. S., Park, S., Kim, Y. H., Kim, M. B., Lee, W. S., Jeong, S. W., Lee, S. J., Jin, J. S., & Shin, S. C. (2014). Determination of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) polyphenol components using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Overall contribution to antioxidant activity. Food Chemistry, 146, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.029
Malik, M., Zhao, C., Schoene, N., Guisti, M. M., Moyer, M. P., & Magnuson, B. A. (2009). Anthocyanin-rich extract from Aronia melanocarpa E. induces a cell cycle block in colon cancer but not normal colonic cells. Nutrition and Cancer, 46, 186–196. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327914NC4602_12
Olas, B., Kędzierska, M., Wachowicz, B., Stochmal, A., Oleszek, W., Jeziorski, A., Piekarski, J., & Glowacki, R. (2010). Effect of Aronia on thiol levels in plasma of breast cancer patients. Central European Journal of Biology, 5, 38–46. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-009-0064-7
Oszmianski, J., & Wojdylo, A. (2005). Aronia melanocarpa phenolics and their antioxidant activity. European Food Research and Technology, 221, 809–813. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-005-0002-5
Prasad, V., De Jesus, K., & Mailankody, S. (2017). The high price of anticancer drugs: Origins, implications, barriers, solutions. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 14, 381. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.31 Seidemann, J. (1993). Die Aronia frucht eine bisher wenig bekannte Obstart. Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau, 89, 149–151.
Sharif, T., Stambouli, M., Burrus, B., Emhemmed, F., Dandache, I., Auger, C., Etienne-Selloum, N., Schini-Kerth, V. B., & Fuhrmann, G. (2013). The polyphenolic-rich Aronia melanocarpa juice kills teratocarcinomal cancer stem-like cells, but not their differentiated counterparts. Journal of Functional Foods, 5, 1244–1252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2013.04.007
Siegel, R., Naishadham, D., & Jemal, A. (2012). Cancer statistics, 2012. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 62, 10–29. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.20138
Szopa, A., Kokotkiewicz, A., Kubica, P., Banaszczak, P., Wojtanowska-Krośniak, A., Krośniak, M., Marzec-Wróblewska, U., Badura, A., Zagrodzki, P., Bucinski, A., Luczkiewicz, M., & Ekiert, H. (2017). Comparative analysis of different groups of phenolic compounds in fruit and leaf extracts of Aronia sp.: A. melanocarpa, A. arbutifolia, and A. ×prunifolia and their antioxidant activities. European Food Research and Technology, 243, 1645–1657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-017-2872-8
Thani, N. A. A., Keshavarz, S., Lwaleed, B. A., Cooper, A. J., & Rooprai, H. K. (2014). Cytotoxicity of gemcitabine enhanced by polyphenolics from Aronia melanocarpa in pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 67, 949–954. https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2013-202075
Thi, N. D., & Hwang, E. S. (2018). Effects of black chokeberry extracts on metastasis and cell-cycle arrest in SK-Hep1 human liver cancer cell line. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 8, 285–291. https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.235313
Tokuşoğlu, O. (2017). Production of health products from Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) fruit (extract, powder, Aronia tea and tablet): Determination of bioavailability, antioxidant phenolic profile and potential anticarcinogenic effects on selected cancer cell lines. Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology Project, Depark-Technopark University–Industry Cooperation Project, Project No. BSTB 047226.
Türkoğlu, E., Uysal, M., & Demirtürk, N. (2018). Investigation of hepatitis B serology in oncological patients receiving chemotherapy. Klimik Journal, 31, 101–106.
Wang, H., Cheng, H., Wang, F., Wei, D., & Wang, X. (2010). A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay developed to evaluate the viability of Escherichia coli cells. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 82, 330–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2010.06.014

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cell Metabolism

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yaşar Kıran
0000-0002-3225-2080
Türkiye

Lütfiye Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç
0000-0002-6791-3811
Türkiye

Gülden Doğan ^*
0000-0002-7668-3368
Türkiye

Semih Dalkılıç
0000-0002-6892-247X
Türkiye

Elif Nur Ayaz
0009-0005-2054-2995
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

September 10, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

August 31, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kıran, Y., Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç, L., Doğan, G., Dalkılıç, S., & Ayaz, E. N. (2026). In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences, Advanced Online Publication, 109-121. https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG

AMA

1.Kıran Y, Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç L, Doğan G, Dalkılıç S, Ayaz EN. In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities. Int J Nature Life Sci. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):109-121. https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG

Chicago

Kıran, Yaşar, Lütfiye Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç, Gülden Doğan, Semih Dalkılıç, and Elif Nur Ayaz. 2026. “In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia Melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities”. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication: 109-21. https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG.

EndNote

Kıran Y, Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç L, Doğan G, Dalkılıç S, Ayaz EN (September 1, 2026) In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences Advanced Online Publication 109–121.

IEEE

[1]Y. Kıran, L. Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç, G. Doğan, S. Dalkılıç, and E. N. Ayaz, “In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities”, Int J Nature Life Sci, no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 109–121, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG

ISNAD

Kıran, Yaşar - Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç, Lütfiye - Doğan, Gülden - Dalkılıç, Semih - Ayaz, Elif Nur. “In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia Melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities”. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences. Advanced Online Publication (September 1, 2026): 109-121. https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG.

JAMA

1.Kıran Y, Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç L, Doğan G, Dalkılıç S, Ayaz EN. In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities. Int J Nature Life Sci. 2026;:109–121.

MLA

Kıran, Yaşar, et al. “In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia Melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities”. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication, Sept. 2026, pp. 109-21, https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG.

Vancouver

1.Yaşar Kıran, Lütfiye Kadıoğlu Dalkılıç, Gülden Doğan, Semih Dalkılıç, Elif Nur Ayaz. In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Aronia melanocarpa Leaf Extracts on HepG2 and MCF-7 Cells and Their Associated Biological Activities. Int J Nature Life Sci [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):109-21. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA96FH58YG