Biological activity of extracts of traditional wild medicinal plants from the Balkan Peninsula

Abstract

© 2018 South African Association of Botanists The aim of the present study was to investigate antioxidant, cytotoxic and enzyme-inhibitory activities of wild growing medicinal herbs in the Balkan Peninsula (Morus nigra L., Symphytum officinale L., Sambucus nigra L., Teucrium chamaedrys L. and Teucrium montanum L.). Notably, antioxidant activity of investigated plant species was confirmed through several assays including free radical scavenging (ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC), phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating test. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated using three different cell lines: Hep2c, RD and L2OB. S. officinale L. and S. nigra L. showed the highest cytotoxic activity. All studied extracts exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on tested enzymes. S. nigra L. and T. chamaedrys L. exhibited the strongest tyrosinase inhibitory effects (26.62 ± 0.77 extract and 14.72 ± 0.41 mg KAEs/g, respectively), while S. officinale L. was the most potent in terms on α-glucosidase inhibition (11.47 ± 0.05 mmol ACAE/g extract). The obtained results indicate that the extracts of the tested wild grown plants could be used which can be explored as natural medicines for the promotion of health.