Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity Evaluation of <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> Subsp. <i>oxycedrus</i> Needles and Berries
Reda Ben Mrid,
Najat Bouchmaa,
Youssef Bouargalne,
Btissam Ramdan,
Khalid Karrouchi,
Imad Kabach,
Miloud El Karbane,
Abderrazak Idir,
Abdelmajid Zyad,
Mohamed Nhiri
Affiliations
Reda Ben Mrid
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, BP 416, 90000 Tangier, Morocco
Najat Bouchmaa
Team of Experimental Oncology and Natural Substances, Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, 23000 Beni-Mellal, Morocco
Youssef Bouargalne
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, BP 416, 90000 Tangier, Morocco
Btissam Ramdan
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, BP 416, 90000 Tangier, Morocco
Khalid Karrouchi
Physicochemical service, Drugs Quality Control Laboratory, Division of Drugs and Pharmacy, Ministry of Health, 10100 Rabat, Morocco
Imad Kabach
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, BP 416, 90000 Tangier, Morocco
Miloud El Karbane
Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Bromatology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, 10100 Rabat, Morocco
Abderrazak Idir
Team of Experimental Oncology and Natural Substances, Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, 23000 Beni-Mellal, Morocco
Abdelmajid Zyad
Team of Experimental Oncology and Natural Substances, Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, 23000 Beni-Mellal, Morocco
Mohamed Nhiri
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, BP 416, 90000 Tangier, Morocco
In order to evaluate the antioxidant properties of aqueous and methanol extracts of needles and berries of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus (Joo) species, various antioxidant capacity assessment tests (free radical scavenging assays (DPPH• and ABTS•+ tests), ferrous ions (Fe2+) chelating activity and reducing power assay (FRAP) were conducted. In all of the tests, the extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Furthermore, in-vitro cytotoxic activity assays of the methanolic extracts showed potent cytotoxic effects against two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7), with no cytotoxicity towards normal cells (PBMCs). Reactive oxygen species generation was presumed to be a potential reason for the observed cytotoxic effects. According to all the above, and considering its appropriate composition of mineral elements and phenolic compounds, Joo could offer a beneficial and natural source of bioactive compounds that can be either used on the preventive side as it could potentially be used in the clinic without toxicity.
