Studies Regarding the Pharmaceutical Potential of Derivative Products from <i>Plantain</i>
Marilena-Gabriela Olteanu Zaharie,
Nicoleta Radu,
Lucia Pirvu,
Marinela Bostan,
Mariana Voicescu,
Mihaela Begea,
Mariana Constantin,
Catalina Voaides,
Narcisa Babeanu,
Viviana Roman
Affiliations
Marilena-Gabriela Olteanu Zaharie
Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Nicoleta Radu
Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Lucia Pirvu
Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Chemical Pharmaceutical R & D, 112 Vitan Road, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
Marinela Bostan
Institute of Virology Stefan S. Nicolau, Center of Immunology, 285 Mihai Bravu Avenue, 030304 Bucharest, Romania
Mariana Voicescu
Institute of Physical Chemistry Ilie Murgulescu, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Begea
Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060026 Bucharest, Romania
Mariana Constantin
Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Chemistry and Petrochemistry R & D of Bucharest, 202 Splaiul Independentei Street, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Catalina Voaides
Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Narcisa Babeanu
Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Viviana Roman
Institute of Virology Stefan S. Nicolau, Center of Immunology, 285 Mihai Bravu Avenue, 030304 Bucharest, Romania
In this study, three types of extracts isolated from leaves of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) were tested for their chemical content and biological activities. The three bioproducts are combinations of polysaccharides and polyphenols (flavonoids and iridoidic compounds), and they were tested for antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, and prebiotic activity (particularly for polysaccharides fraction). Briefly, the iridoid-enriched fraction has revealed a pro-oxidant activity, while the flavonoid-enriched fraction had a high antioxidant potency; the polysaccharide fraction also indicated a pro-oxidant activity, explained by the co-presence of iridoid glycosides. All three bioproducts demonstrated moderate antifungal effects against Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and dermatophytes, too. Studies in vitro proved inhibitory activity of the three fractions on the leukemic tumor cell line THP-1, the main mechanism being apoptosis stimulation, while the polysaccharide fraction indicated a clear prebiotic activity, in the concentration range between 1 and 1000 µg/mL, evaluated as higher than that of the reference products used, inulin and dextrose, respectively.
