Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>

<i>Salvia aethiopis</i> L. (Mediterranean sage) is a medicinal plant known for its rich phenolic content and different therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity and anticancer potential of water extracts from in vitro cultivated <...

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Main Authors: Krasimira Tasheva, Inna Sulikovska, Ani Georgieva, Vera Djeliova, Vesela Lozanova, Anelia Vasileva, Ivaylo Ivanov, Petko Denev, Maria Lazarova, Valya Vassileva, Polina Petkova-Kirova
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1427
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author Krasimira Tasheva
Inna Sulikovska
Ani Georgieva
Vera Djeliova
Vesela Lozanova
Anelia Vasileva
Ivaylo Ivanov
Petko Denev
Maria Lazarova
Valya Vassileva
Polina Petkova-Kirova
author_facet Krasimira Tasheva
Inna Sulikovska
Ani Georgieva
Vera Djeliova
Vesela Lozanova
Anelia Vasileva
Ivaylo Ivanov
Petko Denev
Maria Lazarova
Valya Vassileva
Polina Petkova-Kirova
author_sort Krasimira Tasheva
collection DOAJ
description <i>Salvia aethiopis</i> L. (Mediterranean sage) is a medicinal plant known for its rich phenolic content and different therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity and anticancer potential of water extracts from in vitro cultivated <i>S. aethiopis</i>. The extract exhibited a high total polyphenol (110.03 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (7.88 ± 0.25 mg QE/g) content, along with a strong oxygen radical absorbance capacity (an ORAC value of 3677.9 ± 24.8 µmol TE/g). LC-HRMS analysis identified 21 bioactive compounds, including salvianic acid C, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid K and various organic acids. A cytotoxicity evaluation using the Neutral Red Uptake assay showed that the extract had a low toxicity to non-cancerous BALB/3T3 cells. An antiproliferative activity assessment via the MTT assay revealed selective cytotoxicity against Hep G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells (IC<sub>50</sub> = 353.8 ± 21.8 µg/mL) and lung (A549) and prostate (PC-3) carcinoma cell lines. Migration assays and cytopathological evaluations confirmed the significant inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the suppression of migration and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Flow cytometry revealed considerable increases in apoptotic and necrotic cell populations following treatment with <i>S. aethiopis</i> extract. These findings showed the potential of <i>S. aethiopis</i> as a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties, supporting its further exploration for therapeutic applications.
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spelling doaj-art-2fbd94b3c9774f3aaefec7ab6768267d2025-08-20T03:08:55ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-03-01307142710.3390/molecules30071427Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>Krasimira Tasheva0Inna Sulikovska1Ani Georgieva2Vera Djeliova3Vesela Lozanova4Anelia Vasileva5Ivaylo Ivanov6Petko Denev7Maria Lazarova8Valya Vassileva9Polina Petkova-Kirova10Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Pathology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Pathology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Molecular Biology of Cell Cycle, Institute of Molecular Biology “Acad. R. Tsanev”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University–Sofia, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University–Sofia, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University–Sofia, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaLaboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 4000 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Synaptic Signaling and Communication, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaInstitute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Synaptic Signaling and Communication, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria<i>Salvia aethiopis</i> L. (Mediterranean sage) is a medicinal plant known for its rich phenolic content and different therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity and anticancer potential of water extracts from in vitro cultivated <i>S. aethiopis</i>. The extract exhibited a high total polyphenol (110.03 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (7.88 ± 0.25 mg QE/g) content, along with a strong oxygen radical absorbance capacity (an ORAC value of 3677.9 ± 24.8 µmol TE/g). LC-HRMS analysis identified 21 bioactive compounds, including salvianic acid C, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid K and various organic acids. A cytotoxicity evaluation using the Neutral Red Uptake assay showed that the extract had a low toxicity to non-cancerous BALB/3T3 cells. An antiproliferative activity assessment via the MTT assay revealed selective cytotoxicity against Hep G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells (IC<sub>50</sub> = 353.8 ± 21.8 µg/mL) and lung (A549) and prostate (PC-3) carcinoma cell lines. Migration assays and cytopathological evaluations confirmed the significant inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the suppression of migration and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Flow cytometry revealed considerable increases in apoptotic and necrotic cell populations following treatment with <i>S. aethiopis</i> extract. These findings showed the potential of <i>S. aethiopis</i> as a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties, supporting its further exploration for therapeutic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1427<i>Salvia aethiopis</i>phytochemicalsantioxidant activityhepatocellular carcinomacytotoxicityapoptosis
spellingShingle Krasimira Tasheva
Inna Sulikovska
Ani Georgieva
Vera Djeliova
Vesela Lozanova
Anelia Vasileva
Ivaylo Ivanov
Petko Denev
Maria Lazarova
Valya Vassileva
Polina Petkova-Kirova
Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
Molecules
<i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
phytochemicals
antioxidant activity
hepatocellular carcinoma
cytotoxicity
apoptosis
title Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
title_full Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
title_fullStr Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
title_full_unstemmed Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
title_short Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
title_sort phytochemical profile antioxidant capacity and anticancer potential of water extracts from in vitro cultivated i salvia aethiopis i
topic <i>Salvia aethiopis</i>
phytochemicals
antioxidant activity
hepatocellular carcinoma
cytotoxicity
apoptosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1427
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