title: Sesquiterpene lactone! a promising antioxidant, anticancer and moderate antinociceptive agent from Artemisia macrocephala jacquem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) make a diverse and huge group of bio-active constituents that have been isolated from several plant families. However, the greatest numbers are present in Asteraceae family having more than 3000 different reported structures. Recently several researchers have reported that STLs have significant antioxidant and anticancer potentials.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate the antioxidant, anticancer and antinociceptive potentials of STLs, gravity column chromatography technique was used for isolation from the biologically rich chloroform fraction of Artemisia macrocephala Jacquem. The antioxidant activity of the isolated STLs was determined by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity, anticancer activity was determined on 3 T3, HeLa and MCF-7 cells by MTT assay while the antinociceptive activity was determined through acetic acid induced writhings, tail immersion method and formalin induced nociception method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the STLs of Artemisia macrocephala possesses promising antioxidant activity and also it decreased the viability of 3 T3, HeLa and MCF-7 cells and mild to moderate antinociceptive activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sesquiterpenes lactones (STLs) are widely present in numerous genera of the family Asteraceae (compositae). They are described as the active constituents used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The present study reveals the significant potentials of STL and may be used as an alternative for the management of cancer. Anyhow, the isolated compound is having no prominent antinociceptive potentials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoaib
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. palpaliachyut@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Achyut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Sargodha, Sarghodah Punjab, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Nawaz
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Wadood Ali
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Punjab, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saiqa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishtiaq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jahangir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahzeb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad Naveed
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Umer
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D007783:Lactones; D012717:Sesquiterpenes
keywords: 3 T3; ABTS; Anticancer; Artemisia macrocephala; DPPH; HeLa; MCF-7; Sesquiterpene lactone