Comparison of cytotoxic and antioxidant activities and phenol content of four Salvia L. species from Iran

The use of medicinal plants has been one of the most common treatments since ancient times. Various plants are used in traditional and modern medicine, due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties, and other biological potentials.

In this study, the aerial parts of four species of Salvia including two populations of S. reuteriana Boiss., two populations of S. limbata C.A.Mey. and one population of each S. syriaca L. and S. ceratophylla L. species from Kashan region have been investigated.

The antioxidative activity of the methanol extracts of plant samples were evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined via the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. The cytotoxic effects of samples on HeLa cells were determined through MTT assay.

Based on the results of DPPH assay, IC50 levels of methanolic extracts were in the range of 39.08 ± 0.15 to 163.77 ± 0.63 μg/ml, and total phenol contents were in the range of
42.7 ± 3.09 to 105.8 ± 1.15 μg/mg. In addition, the flavonoid contents ranged from 30.07 ± 2.52 to 82.46 ± 2.2 μg/mg. There was a direct relationship between antioxidant activity and phenol compound contents. According to our study, the methanolic extracts of Salvia species showed toxicity effects on HeLa cells.

The extracts of two populations of S. reuteriana were associated with the highest cytotoxicity, compared to other species of Salvia. Furthermore, all examined extracts exhibited weak to moderate antioxidant activities. The S. ceratophylla extract was associated with the highest antioxidant activity.