Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Crataegus meyeri

Background: Crataegus meyeri A. Pojark is one of Iran›s most well-known medicinal plants. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the methanolic extract of Crataegus meyeri (MCM) leaves.Methods: MCM was prepared from dried leaves. First, the cytotoxic impact of MCM was determined via the MTT test. Then, the anti-inflammatory activity of MCM on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed J۷۷۴A.۱ cells was examined by measuring NO production and cyclooxygenase-۲ (COX-۲) gene expression using the Griess test and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. MCM antioxidant activity was assessed using the FRAP and DPPH tests.Results: MCM was shown to be non-cytotoxic against J۷۷۴A.۱ cells at≤۱۲۵ and≤۶۲ μg/mL concentrations after ۲۴ and ۴۸ hours, respectively. It also significantly attenuated NO generation in LPS-treated J۷۷۴A.۱ cells at ۶۲ and ۱۲۵ μg/mL after ۲۴ hours and ۶۲ μg/mL after ۴۸ hours. The extract significantly reduced COX-۲ gene expression at concentrations of ۶۲ and ۱۲۵ μg/mL after ۲۴ hours and at concentrations of ۱۵, ۳۱, and ۶۲ μg/mL after ۴۸ hours. Moreover, the results indicated that MCM at all concentrations exhibited lower antioxidant activity than vitamin C, but the difference was insignificant. Furthermore, MCM could reduce the viability of most of the studied cancer cell lines at concentrations of ۲۵۰ and ۵۰۰ μg/mL.Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that MCM may show therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, a finding that requires clinical trials.

Keywords:

Crataegus meyeri , Murine macrophage J۷۷۴A.۱ cell line , anti-inflammation , Antioxidant , Cytotoxicity