LC-ESI-MS analysis, antitumor and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Egyptian Allium kurrat -

ABSTRACT Human have been constantly using plants to overcome many diseases. Allium kurrat is an edible cultivated vegetable in Egypt. The objectives of the present study are to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extract and certain fractions derived from it. Antioxidant activity of these extracts was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis- (3-ethylbenzothialozine-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and total antioxidant capacity assays. Also, cytotoxic activity of these extracts was determined against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and human colon carcinoma (Caco-2) using Neutral red assay. LC-ESI-MS analysis was carried out for the most active extracts. The results revealed that, ethyl acetate fraction have highest phenolic contents (127.45±0.71 gallic acid equivalent/g plant extract) and flavonoid contents (98.55±1.87 mg rutin equivalent/g plant extract) as well as showed the highest antioxidant activity. On the other hand, the butanolic fraction had the highest antitumor activity on HepG2 and Caco-2 cell lines (36.2µg/mL and 44.6µg/mL) respectively. These results proved that antitumor activity of this plant is correlated with many active ingredients in it. The LC-ESI-MS analysis identified a mixture of phenolic compounds (flavonoid glycosides and phenolic acids). Thus, Allium kurrat contains active ingredients which inhibit the risk of many chronic diseases.