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Screening of cytotoxicity of Centaurea species aqueous extracts fractions on human fibroblasts

Centaurea species are used as medical plants or as a food in eastern Mediterranean area. [1-3] The aim of our study was to make a screening of cytotoxicity of twelve different aqueous extracts from seven Croatian Centaurea species and a comparison of their HPLC profile to identify toxic fractions. The toxic properties of plant extracts and their constituents may be used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. Cytotoxicity of Centaurea extracts and fractions was measured on primary fibroblasts through the MTT assay.[4] The extracts were partitioned using reversed phase HPLC with C8 column and gradient of polar solvents. Aqueous extracts (AE) were prepared from wild growing Centaurea ragusina, C. scabiosa, C. solstitialis, C. rupestris, C. alba, C. jacea and C. salonitana. Among the tested aqueous extracts, the highest cytotoxic activity was found in C. ragusina, C. salonitana, C. solstitialis and C. alba. Every other AE showed low toxicity and C. scabiosa, wild edible species, showed no toxicity even at 1g/L of extract. Some of the fractions isolated by HPLC were tested for their toxicity based on their HPLC profile. Peaks that were characteristic of each species were collected and tested by MTT on fibroblast at the equivalent for 1g/L of extract. Some of these fractions seem to explain part of the toxicity of the extract. Future investigation of chemical composition should highlight the main compounds in these extracts responsible for those biological activities. As far as previous research showed, it is expected that some of the main groups of compounds could be sesquiterpene lactones, phenolic compounds and organic acids. Sesquiterpene lactones are usually connected with a toxic properties of Centaurea extracts.[5, 6, 7]

Centaurea, extracts, cytotoxicity

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