Phytochemical, Biological and Pharmacological Investigation in Various Extracts from Astragalus gombo Coss & Dur L. Ex-Bunge

Abstract

Astragalus gombo Coss. & Dur L. Ex-Bunge is an endemic species of Algerian arid and semi-arid regions, however, is commonly used in traditional medi-cines. The aerial part was extracted by 80/20 methanol/water and water. The first crude extract was fractionated by ethyl acetate, n-butanol and methanol. LC-ESI-MS analysis revealed 25 compounds among all fractions. The major identified phenolic acids in ethyl acetate (EAAg) fraction were the p-coumaric flowed by tans-ferulic acid (1315 and 370 μg/g extract, respec-tively). Moreover EAAg exhibited high amounts of flavonoides (cirsiliol and quercetin-3-O-galactoside by 1155 and 491 μg /g extract, respectively). EAAg fraction was the most effective antioxidant in all assays tested, followed by NBAg fraction. The EAAg exhibited higher antioxidant activity than positive control BHA. Excellent and significant linear correlations were displayed be-tween phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities. Hence, both of frac-tions enhanced the phagocytic activity by stimulating the reticuloendothelial system at different doses 50, 70 and 100 mg/ kg compared. Results of antico-agulant activity assay revealed that AEAg, EAAg and NBAg prolonged pro-thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin. Cytotoxicity assay of EAAg fraction against HeLa and Mcf-7 cells revealed an IC50 values 108.8±1.8 and 168.4±1.6μg/mL, respectively, after 48h of incubation. Hence,The EAAg fraction displayed significant selectivity index (SI) towards normal mouse liver cells Aml12. The results presented clearly that A. gombo have a poten-tial to be used as a natural antioxidant, especially the EAAg fraction, as an original source of bioactive molecules with anti proliferative activities and immunopromising effects.