Phytochemical analysis and investigation of biological activities of different extracts obtained from endemic Cousinia birecikensis and Hypericum salsolifolium

Nature has always been and continues to be a source of food and ingredients beneficial to human health. Medicinal plants and their bioactive molecules are integral components of nature and have supported and continue to support human health for thousands of years. Nowadays, the importance of plant extracts in the health sector is increasing because they contain bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and carotenoids that have antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. The purpose of this study; To investigate the potential use of endemic Cousinia birecikensis and Hypericum salsolifolium plants as anticancer, antioxidant and food supplement products. In the study; Plant extracts of the powdered plants were prepared with solvents of different polarities (hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water). TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts were analyzed by different methods (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC). Phenolic component analysis of the plant extract with high antioxidant activity was analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and trace element analysis was analyzed by Icp. Anticancer activity; Anticancer activity was examined on lung cancer cell (A549), prostate cancer cell (DU-145), normal lung cell (BEAS-2B), normal prostate cell (PNT-1A). The cytotoxic effect was examined by MTT, the apoptotic effect was examined by the annexin-V and acridine orange method, and the effect on the cell cycle was examined by the cell cycle method. Free amino acid and carnitine profiles were examined by LC-MS/MS method. It was determined that both plant species were high in total phenolic and flavonoid substances in methanol extract. It was determined that the antioxidant activities of plant extracts were higher in methanol and aqueous extracts than in other solvent extracts. As phenolic compounds, mainly syringic acid and vanillic acid were found to be high in H. salsolifolium extract, while fumaric acid and vanillic acid were found to be higher in C. birecikensis extract. In the element content analysis, mainly calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium values were found to be high. In the free amino acid profile; While the amount of glutamine and valine was very high in the H. salsolifolium extract, the amount of proline and alanine was found to be high in the C. birecikensis extract. In our study, the type of carnitine was found to have the highest amount of free carnitine and acetyl carnitine in both plant extracts. It was determined that the methanol extracts of both plants had a cytotoxic effect on lung cancer, while their cytotoxic effect on normal lung cells was low. It was determined that methanol extract had an apoptotic effect on lung cancer cells and showed anticancer activity by stopping the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. As a result of the study, it was determined that H. salsolifolium and C. birecikensis endemic plants have antioxidant and anticancer potential, and as a result of detailed analysis of these plants, it was determined that they have the potential to be transformed into phytotherapeutic products that will contribute to human health.