Bioactive principles and potentiality of hot methanolic extract of the leaves from Artemisia absinthium L "in vitro cytotoxicity against human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, antibacterial study and wound healing activity"

Background: Artemisia absinthium L is an ornamental plant widespread in Saudi Arabia. Traditionally the plant has been used in the Arabic system of medicine. But the scientific evidence of the bioactive compounds and their medicinal value was not yet explored widely.

Objective: The study was designed to analyse the bioactive principles and medicinal properties of Artemisia absinthium L a traditional herb of the southern part of Saudi Arabia.

Method: The bioactive compounds present in hot methanolic extract of the leaves (HMEL) of Artemisia absinthium L. was explored by GC-MS study. The cytotoxicity effect of HMEL was determined against MCF-7 breast cancer cells ATCC and human colon cancer cells HCT 116 ATCC by performing MTT assay. Morphological changes of HMEL treated MCF-7 were observed under a phase-contrast microscope by staining the cells with neutral red. A reaction mixture (RM) of HMEL was prepared in Milli-Q water and antibacterial susceptibility was performed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, In vivo wound healing properties of the RM was screened in male rats and their efficacy was compared with standard povidone iodine cream. Biomarkers such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF- α, caspase-9 and caspase-3 levels were determined to qualify the wound healing property.

Results: Epiyangambin, flavone, octadecanoic acid, 2,3- dihydroxypropyl ester, palmitic acid β-monoglyceride, á-Dmannofuranoside, camphor, and terpineol were identified as possible compounds through GC-MS analysis. The HMEL of Artemisia absinthium L was actively inhibiting the proliferation of breast cancer cells MCF-7 ATCC at the concentration of 80.96 ± 3.94 µg/ml as IC50 value but failed to inhibit the proliferation against the treated human colon cancer cells HCT 116 cells ATCC. HMEL of Artemisia absinthium L was showing a moderate spectrum of antibacterial effect against the screened bacteria. RM showed better wound healing property than standard povidone iodine cream that modulates cytokine networks and apoptosis markers levels indicated the healing of wound.

Conclusion: The study suggested that novel anticancer, antibacterial and immune modulatory molecules can be developed from the leaves of Artemisia absinthium L.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Anticancer activity; Artemisia absinthium; Biomarkers level; Herbal plants; Phytoconstituents; Solvent extractions; Wound healing activity.