title: Antioxidant, pro-oxidant and cytotoxic properties of parsley.
abstract: Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) leaves were macerated with a mixture of methanol: water: acetic acid to produce a crude extract which was then defatted with (40°-60°) petrol. Antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated using a battery of in vitro assays, viz., iron(iii) reduction, iron(ii) chelation and free radical scavenging assays. Evaluation of the pro-oxidant activity of the extract was based upon its effects upon DNA fragmentation and protein carbonylation. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of the extract were determined in non-cancerous CV1-P fibroblast and cancerous A375 melanoma cells using MTT and LDH tests and caspase 3-like activity assay. The highest concentration, 2.0 mg ml(-1), decreased the viability of both cell lines, however, the cancerous melanoma cells were slightly susceptible to the effects. The observed cytotoxicity was not due to the caspase 3 activity. In conclusion, the toxicity might be explained by the pro-oxidative activity of components within the extract against proteins and/or DNA but it is not related to caspase 3-dependent apoptosis within cells.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56, FIN-00014, Finland. damien.dorman@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: H J Damien
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.forename: Tiina A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lantto
authors.forename: Atso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raasmaja
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D028528:Petroselinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3