Planta Med 2008; 74 - PA327
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084325

Anti-tumour activity and phytochemical constituents of the aerial parts of Dichrostachys cinerea L

AHS Abou Zeid 1, MS Hifnawy 2, RS Mohamed 1
  • 1Pharmacognosy Dept., National Research Centre, El- Tahrir St., Dokki (12622), Cairo, Egypt
  • 2Pharmacognosy Dept., Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo Univ., Cairo, Egypt

Carbohydrates of the aerial parts of Dichrostachys cinerea L. were quantitatively determined as glucose by phenol-sulphuric acid method. The percentage of total carbohydrates and free sugars were found to be (4.2%) and (2.0%) respectively. HPLC analysis of low molecular weight carbohydrates extracted by 80% ethanol [1] revealed the identification of eight sugars representing 92.8% of total sugars. The major sugars were maltose (33.2%), galacturonic acid (21.4%), arabinose (13.3%) and galactose (11.9%). Study of the polysaccharide hydrolyzates of Dichrostachys cinerea extracted by cold and hot water revealed the identification of nine and eight sugars representing 91.0% and 90.9% of total sugars respectively. The major sugars of the cold extract were ribose (55.7%), glucose (11.7%) and mannose (10.2%) and glucuronic (8.5%), while those of the hot extract were ribose (35.8%), mannose (24.5%) and galactcuronic acid (8.3%).

The percentage of protein content of Dichrostachys cinerea was found to be (16.3%), as determined by micro-kjeldahl method [2]. Total amino acids were determined by amino acid analyzer, revealed the identification of 16 amino acids. The major ones were glutamic (21.1%), glycine (11.2%), alanine (9.6%) and aspartic (8.4%). Analysis of free amino acids revealed the identification of 16 amino acids. The major amino acids were glutamic (34.6%), aspartic (11.1%), glycine (8.5%) and alanine (8.4%).

The anticancer activity of the total ethanol extract of aerial parts of Dichrostachys cinerea on five human tumour cell lines was carried out [3]. The results revealed that it exhibited good inhibitory activity on brain tumour cell line and liver carcinoma cell line at IC50 2.41µg and 4.3µg respectively.

References: 1. Gertz, C.H. (1990).HPLC tips and tricks. Great Britain at the add press, Oxford p.608.

2. Pearson, D., (1970); „The Chemical Analysis of Food“, 6th ed. Churchill Ltd., London.

3. Skehan P., et al . (1990)J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 82: 1107.