Planta Medica International Open 2017; 4(S 01): S1-S202
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608473
Poster Session
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of different extracts of Thymus vulgaris ssp. fragantissimus

L Félix
1   1- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
2   2- Laboratory Animal Science (LAS), Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal
,
I Teixeira
3   3- Department of Biology and Environment, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
,
M Taghouti
1   1- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
4   4- Chemistry Center (CQ-VR), Chemistry Department, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
,
FM Nunes
4   4- Chemistry Center (CQ-VR), Chemistry Department, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
,
AM Silva
1   1- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
3   3- Department of Biology and Environment, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
24 October 2017 (online)

 

In the past years, the interest in natural products has increased involving the investigation of medicinal plants for biological activities and therapeutic potentials. Plants from genus Thymus (Lamiaceae family) in which most species are native to western Mediterranean area, have been used from ancient times and continues to be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Among Thymus species, Thymus vulgaris ssp. fragantissimus, a citrusy orange peel scent and flavor, remains one of the least studied, with very little information related to its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. In this context, respective phytochemical profile, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of hydroethanolic (HE) and aqueous extracts (decoction (D) and infusion (I)) from T. vulgaris ssp. fragantissimus were investigated. Total phenolics, flavonoids, ortho-diphenols, tannins, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavones and flavonols were assessed using spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activities of both extracts were determined using various in vitro methods against DPPH·, ABTS·+, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Finally, cell growth activity of extracts was evaluated in vitro using two cell lines (HepG2, human hepatocellular carcinoma, and RAW264.7 murine macrophage). A similar phytochemical profile was observed between HE and aqueous extracts with slight variations. Results also showed similar activity (IC50) in DPPH and ABTS assay. A significant reduction of superoxide scavenging activity was observed for the aqueous extracts compared to HE extract. Tested extracts showed significant anti-proliferative activity against HepG2 and RAW264.7 cells after 24 and 48h exposure. Overall, a ranking for anti-proliferative activity was established for the representative extracts tested (D>I>HE). These results validate this plant as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in several industrial sectors and warrant further investigation.

INTERACT-project-NORTE-01 – 0145-FEDER-000017 (ISAC), co-financed by ERDF through NORTE-2020. And grants (BI/UTAD/INTERACT/ISAC/203/2016, to L.F.), (PD/BD/52563/2014, to M.T.).