title: Antioxidative and in vitro antiproliferative activity of Arctium lappa root extracts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arctium lappa, known as burdock, is widely used in popular medicine for hypertension, gout, hepatitis and other inflammatory disorders. Pharmacological studies indicated that burdock roots have hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging and antiproliferative activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity by DPPH and in vitro antiproliferative activity of different A. lappa root extracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hot and room temperature dichloromethanic, ethanolic and aqueous extracts; hydroethanolic and total aqueous extract of A. lappa roots were investigated regarding radical scavenging activity by DPPH, total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteau method and antiproliferative in vitro activity was evaluated in human cancer cell lines. The hydroethanolic extract analyzed by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher radical scavenging activity was found for the hydroethanolic extract. The higher phenolic contents were found for the dichloromethane, obtained both by Soxhlet and maceration extraction and hydroethanolic extracts. The HRESI-MS demonstrated the presence of arctigenin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid compounds, which were identified by comparison with previous data. The dichloromethane extracts were the only extracts that exhibited activity against cancer cell lines, especially for K562, MCF-7 and 786-0 cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hydroethanolic extracts exhibited the strongest free radical scavenging activity, while the highest phenolic content was observed in Soxhlet extraction. Moreover, the dichloromethanic extracts showed selective antiproliferative activity against K562, MCF-7 and 786-0 human cancer cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology, Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, P,O, Box 6109, University of Campinas, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil. fpredes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Fabricia S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Predes
authors.forename: Ana L T G
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: João E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Foglio
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dolder
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031170:Arctium / Q000737:chemistry*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl