Phytochemical and anticancer evaluation of stems and leaves extract of Hypochaeris Radicata (L.)

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most considerable concerns because of increasing the death rate all over the world. Recent studies have disclosed that plant extracts exhibit anticancer activity through various mechanisms. Hypochaeris Radicatahas been used by Vietnamese in herbal medicines to support the medication of infirmities. This study is to consider the secondary metabolites, antioxidant and anticancer capacities of extract from the stems and leaves of H. Radicata (SL-HR). Extract of SL-HR was analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals via qualitative chemical tests and determined total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) quenching assay and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay were selected to investigate antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative activity, respectively. Besides, acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) dual staining was applied to evaluate the ability to induce apoptosis on HepG2 cancer cells. The result of extract of SL-HR contains the main phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and triterpenes. Ethanol extract had highest content of polyphenol (84.86 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g dry mass), and exhibited the great total antioxidant property (IC50 = 184.13μg/mL) and anticancer activity on HepG2 cancer cells (IC50 = 81.69μg/mL). Furthermore, the characteristics of apoptosis including shrinkage of the cell and apoptotic bodies were found following 60 h of SL-HR extract treatment through AO-EB dual staining. The data suggest that SL-HR extract had potent antioxidant and anticancer activity.