title: Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Allium cepa L. and Allium × cornutum (Clementi ex Visiani 1842) Methanolic Extracts.
abstract: Here, we report a comparative study of the phytochemical profile and the biological activity of two onion extracts, namelyAllium cepaL. andAllium×cornutum(Clementi ex Visiani 1842), members of the family Amaryllidaceae. The identification of flavonoids and anthocyanins, and their individual quantities, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The potency of both extracts to scavenge free radicals was determined by the DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods. The DNA protective role was further tested by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (COMET) assay and by Fenton's reagent causing double-strand breaks on the closed circular high copy pUC19 plasmid isolated fromEscherichia coli. In the presence of both extracts, a significant decrease in DNA damage was observed, which indicates a protective role ofAllium cepaandAllium×cornutumon DNA strand breaks. Additionally, cytotoxicity was tested on glioblastoma and breast cancer cell lines. The results showed that both extracts had antiproliferative effects, but the most prominent decrease in cellular growth was observed in glioblastoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, R. Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia. zfredotov@pmfst.hr.
authors.forename: Željana
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Fredotović
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Split, R. Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia. msprung@pmfst.hr.
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šprung
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Split, R. Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia. barbara@pmfst.hr.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Split, R. Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia. iljubenk@pmfst.hr.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ljubenkov
authors.affiliation: Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000 Split, Croatia. irena.budic-leto@krs.hr.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Budić-Leto
authors.affiliation: Department for Food technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, R. Boškovića 35, 21000 Split, Croatia. tea@ktf-split.hr.
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bilušić
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia. vedrana.cikes.culic@mefst.hr.
authors.forename: Vedrana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Čikeš-Čulić
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, R. Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia. puizina@pmfst.hr.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puizina
mesh_terms: D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000072257:Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity; D010851:Picrates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; C045076:Fenton's reagent; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D007501:Iron
keywords: Allium cepa; Allium × cornutum; antimutagenic activity; antioxidant activity; antiproliferative activity; genotoxicity; onions; phenolic compounds