Investigation of the biological effects of xanthium strumarium

Xanthium strumarium, is known as a medicinal plant, a summer annual herb, a member of the Asteraceae family. It was originate in North America and has been extensively naturalized elsewhere. The burs of the plant samples were collected from the province of Kilis-Söğütlüdere locations, in November, 2013 and dried according to herbarium techniques. The acetone extract was done, then the silica gel column and thin layer chromatography used to isolate the xanthatin and xanthinosin. We used the MTT assay to determine the antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity of xanthatin and xanthinosin on A549 and H1299 cell lines. In addition, DNA protection activity was studied by pBR322 plasmid DNA assay. The results showed that, xanthatin in low concentrations (6.25, 12.5 μg/ml) had a good result on A549 whereas xanthinosin on A549 only in the high concentrations (50, 100 μg/ml) were worked. Both of xanthatin and xanthinosin at the same concentration (0.1 mg/ml) showed protection property against to plasmid DNA damaging in present of UV and H2O2. In conclusion, it was determined that X. strumarium has significante antitumor and DNA protection activities.