Effect of Verbascum lasianthum Boiss.ex Benth species on lung cancer(A549) cells

Verbascum L., commonly known as mullein (Scrophulariaceae) species are often preferred in many countries of the world due to their mucolytic effects, especially in order to relieve the upper respiratory tract. However, different types of Verbascum L. İn different geographies traditionally used in diseases such as wounds healing, eczema, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea. For this reason, leaves, flowers, oily extracts, alcoholic tinctures, capsules belonging to Verbascum L. Species are sold as alternative medicine products in pharmacies and markets of most countries. There are about 360 different species in the world. The majority of these species are endemic among the wealth of Turkey. The antioxidant, antimicrobial or anticancer effects of many of these species have not yet been investigated. In the presented thesis study, the plant whose effects on lung cancer was investigated is Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. Ex Benth., one of the Verbascum L. Species. In this study, acetone (VLaseton) and methanol (VLmethanol) extracts from Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. species were used. Thus, it was aimed to determine the effects of the Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. species on cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation in non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cells, which is a lung cancer cell line. In addition, the study was conducted to determine the type and quantity of phytochemicals of VLmethanol and VLaseton extracts. The types and quantities of some phytochemical components in plant extracts were determined, using 53 different standards with the help of the LC-MS/MS system. Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. cytotoxicity levels were determined by MTT analyses in A549 cells. After the lethal doses (lds) were determined, experimental groups (Group 1: control, group 2: administered VLmethanol at LD0 dose, group 3: administered VLmethanol at LD50 dose, Group 4:administered VLaseton at LD0 dose, group 5: administered VLaseton at LD50 dose) were formed. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), proinflammatory stokin levels (TNF-α, TGF-β1), beta defensin-2 (DEF-β2) levels and DNA damage (with comet test) scores were determined in experimental groups. Three phytochemical components in acetone extract and twenty-one phytochemical components in methanol extract were determined as a result of the analyses. As a result of the data obtained from MTT analysis, it was observed that both the methanol and acetone extracts of the Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. species may be cytotoxic in A549 cells. VLmethanol extract was found to be more cytotoxic than VLacetone extract. However, VLmethanol and VLacetone extracts were found to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in A549 cells. Therefore, it was found that VLmethanol and VLacetone extracts produced cytotoxicity in A549 cells in a way other than oxidative stress and inflammation. Indeed, high doses of VLmethanol and VLacetone extracts were determined to increase DNA damage in A549 cells. One or more of the active ingredients of the Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. species may have mediated the development of DNA damage by interacting with the DNA helix. However, in order to say this, further studies related to the subject are required. These data indicate that the methanol and acetone extracts of Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. species may have demonstrated their cytotoxicity/anticarcinogen activity in A549 cells, not through oxidative stress and inflammation, but by DNA damage. It is thought that the data obtained will contribute to the literature in order to explain the ethnopharmacological effects of the Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Benth. species.