Abstract:
This study is aimed to establish the phytochemical and biological profiles of three traditional medicinal plants : roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) [Asteraceae], leaves of Pistacia lentiscus (L.) [Anacardiaceae] and leaves of Acanthus mollis (L.) [Acanthaceae]. The antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials of extracts of these plants were evaluated using DPPH and Brine Scrimp larval mortality (Artemia salina) assays, respectively. Phytochemical screening shows the richness of these species in bioactive metabolites belonging to different naturals groups. On the DPPH model used, the reducing powers of the methanolic extracts of the leaves of A.mollis and P.lentiscus were significantly higher compared to the other extracts and to that of ascorbic acid (positive control). These potentially antioxidant alcohol extracts exhibited significant total flavonoids and total tannins contents of [03.397 ± 0.255 ; 03.152 ± 0.081 (mg.eq.Q/g)] and [08.345 ± 0.090 ; 29.428 ± 0.378 (mg.eq.C/g)], respectively. Cytotoxicity evaluation of extracts of the three species revealed a high toxicity of both ethyl acetate extracts from A. pyrethrum and P. lentiscus with values of CL50 249,259 and 136,990 µg / ml, respectively. Cytotoxicity guided screening of acetate extract from A. pyrethrum led to the separation and identification using 1H NMR of several compounds namely 6 triterpenes and 4 alkamides, including pellitorin.
