title: Cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds from Tagetes patula flower.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tagetes patula Linn. (Asteraceae) (French Marigold) flowers are used by local practitioners for cancer treatment; however, it lacks scientific justification.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identification of bioactive compounds in T. patula flower for cytotoxic and growth inhibition in human cancer cell lines along with its antioxidant properties using chemical and cell based systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  The T. patula flower methanol extract, its seven fractions, and three phenolic compounds including methyl protocatechuate (1), patuletin (2), and patulitrin (3) were evaluated using sulforhodamine-B assay against HeLa, HT-144, NCI-H460, MCF-7, PC-3, and SF-268 human cancer cell lines. In parallel, antioxidant activity was evaluated using chemical (DPPH(·), deoxyribose, and lipid peroxidation assays) and cell-based chemiluminescence systems (human neutrophils and mice macrophages).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanol extract and ethyl acetate insoluble fraction exhibited cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects against HeLa in which 2 exhibited highest cell growth inhibition (GI50: 0.6 ± 0.1 µg/ml) and cytotoxicity (LC50: 2.5 ± 0.1 µg/ml). It also scavenged LOO(·) (IC50: 6.5 ± 0.7 µg/ml) and [Formula: see text] (IC50: 27.5 ± 1.3 μg/ml) in chemical systems and human neutrophils, respectively. However, 1 preferably scavenged H2O2-Cl(-) (IC50: 0.5 ± 0.01 μg/ml) in mice macrophages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compound 2 from T. patula flower exhibited both growth inhibitory and cytotoxic properties while 1 and 3 were only growth inhibitory against HeLa. 1-3 also displayed antioxidant properties implying its probable role in growth inhibition/cytotoxic action. The present study provides scientific evidence for the use of T. patula flower in cancer treatment by traditional healer.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi , Karachi , Pakistan .
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashif
authors.forename: Samina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.forename: Sabira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.forename: Shaheen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faizi
authors.lastname: Lubna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed Mesaik
authors.forename: Khawaja Shamsuddin
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Azeemi
authors.forename: Ahsana Dar
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Farooq
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D035264:Flowers; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D051379:Mice; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D031686:Tagetes
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003603:Cytotoxins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antiproliferative; French marigold; HeLa cell line; free radical scavenger; patuletin