Determination of phenolic and essentiol oil content of gypsophila sphaerocephala spicies, investigation of antioxidant and cytotoxic activity

The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic and essential oil content of Gypsophilia sphaerocephala species and its antioxidant and antiproliferative activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of water and methanol extracts obtained from the plant were determined by Folin Ciocalteu and Aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively, individual phenolic and essential oil contents were determined by RP-HPLC and GC-MS analysis, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated on the basis of their ability to scavenge DPPH free radicals and ABTS cation radicals, chelate Fe2 + metal ions and reduce copper (II) ions. Antiproliferative activities of the extracts against breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29) and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines were examined by XTT tests. Methanol extract of the plant was observed to be richer in terms of phenolic and flavonoid content than water extract. HPLC analysis revealed that 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin, sirinjic acid, vanillin and rosmarinic acid compounds were abundant in the plant. In parallel with the phenolic contents, it was observed that the methanol extract of the plant had higher DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating and copper (II) reduction capacities. GC-MS analysis revealed that the plant is rich in essential oil content. As a result of cytotoxicity tests, methanol extract showed higher antiproliferative activity against all tested cancer cell lines than water extract, and especially showed the highest activity against HepG2 cells. In the light of the data obtained, it might be concluded that Gypsophilia sphaerocephala species used in this study has the potential to be evaluated in phytotherapy.