Evaluation of Changes in the Biological Activity of Onosma Sericeum Willd (Boraginaceae) Based on Collection Time and Extraction Solvent, and Determination of Its Mineral and Trace Element Composition

Abstract

In this study, total phenol, flavonoid, and free radical scavenging activity of Onosma SericeumWilld (Boraginaceae), a plant grown in Turkey and traditionally used for wound healing, were determinedby using spectrophotometric methods. Its cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells (MCF-7) wasinvestigated. Furthermore, mineral and trace element composition of the plant roots, collected indifferent times, was determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).Onosma Sericeum Willd, which was collected in Besni region, Adıyaman in May, June and July and driedproperly, was extracted by using different solvents in the study. Total phenol content of the extracts wascalculated by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method in gallic acid equivalent as 58.42±0.13–93.34±0.68 mg(GAE)/g. The flavonoid content was calculated as 21.79±1.3–60.33±0.36 mg (KUE)/g in quercetinequivalent by using the aluminum chloride method. Free radical scavenging activity was measuredspectrophotometrically by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. DPPH radicalscavenging activity rates were found to be in the range of 60.27±0.06-78.60±0.21% in the form of %inhibition. It was observed that extracts which were prepared by using ethanol produced the cytotoxiceffect on the MCF-7 cancer cells depending on the dosage. It was concluded that the rates of phenol,flavonoid, free radical scavenging activity, and cytotoxic effect differed based on the solvent used forextraction and the time of plant collection. Moreover, trace element and mineral composition of the plantsamples, collected in different times, were determined.