The genus Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) comprises about 192 taxons in the flora of Turkey distributed througout
the Anatolian peninsula, with 61% being endemic (1–3). Many species of the genus have
long been used traditionally to treat various ailments e.g. cough, hemoroid, peptic
ulser and abscess (4). Pharmacological studies on some Centaurea species have reported
antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antipyretic, cytotoxic and immunological activities
(5).
In this study, methanolic extracts of five Centaurea L. species (C. aphrodisea Boiss., C. athoa DC, C. hyalolepis Boiss., C. iberica Trev. and C. polyclada DC) were investigated for their cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell
lines; MCF7 (human breast cancer), A549 (human lung cancer), U20S (human osteocarcoma)
and one non-cancer cell line, 293HEK (human embriyonic kidney) by cell proliferation
assay using WST-1 reagent. C. polyclada extract was the most active one against MCF7 (IC50:61µg/ml), U2OS (IC50: 63µg/ml) and 293HEK (IC50:72µg/ml) cell lines. C. aphrodisea also showed significant effect on 293HEK (IC50:85µg/ml) and MCF7 (IC50:90µg/ml). This is the first cytotoxic activity report for the Centaurea species mentioned above.
Keywords: Centaurea, Asteraceae, cytotoxicity
References: 1. Bona B et al. (2008) IUFS J Biology 67(1):55–63
2. Wagenitz G (1975) In: Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Davis P.H. (Ed.)
Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, Vol. 5, p: 465–585
3. Uysal T (2008) Ann Bot Fennici 45: 135–137
4. Baytop T (1999) Türkiye'de Bitkilerle Tedavi (Geçmişte ve Bugün), Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri,
İstanbul, 2.baskı, s:316
5. Arif R, Küpeli E, Ergun F (2004) GUJ Science 17(4): 149–164
