Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Anti-Proliferative, Antioxidant and Iron-Chelating Properties of the Tropical Highland Fern, Phymatopteris triloba (Houtt) Pichi Serm (Family Polypodiaceae)

Tsun-Thai Chai^1,2 , Yixian Quah², Keng-Fei Ooh², Nor Ismaliza Mohd Ismail^1,3, Yee-Von Ang³, Sanmugapriya Elamparuthi², Loo-Yew Yeoh², Hean-Chooi Ong⁴, Fai-Chu Wong^1,2

¹Centre for Biodiversity Research; ²Department of Chemical Science; ³Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 31900 Kampar; ⁴Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

For correspondence:- Tsun-Thai Chai Email: chaitt@utar.edu.my Tel:+6054688888

Received: 27 May 2013 Accepted: 8 June 2013 Published: 18 October 2013

Citation: Chai T, Quah Y, Ooh K, Ismail NI, Ang Y, Elamparuthi S, et al. Anti-Proliferative, Antioxidant and Iron-Chelating Properties of the Tropical Highland Fern, Phymatopteris triloba (Houtt) Pichi Serm (Family Polypodiaceae). Trop J Pharm Res 2013; 12(5):747-753 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v12i5.13

© 2013 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the phenolic constituents as well as anti-proliferative, antioxidant and iron-chelating activities of the leaf and rhizome extracts of Phymatopteris triloba.

Methods: Concentrations of selected hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids in aqueous extracts were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Anti-proliferative activity was assessed on human cervix cancer cell line (HeLa) and human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line (K562). Superoxide and nitric oxide scavenging activities as well as iron-chelating activity were determined colorimetrically.

Results: Protocatechuic acid content of the rhizome extract (154.7 mg/g dry matter (DM)) was 1.9-fold higher than in the leaf extract. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid (34.6 mg/g DM) and gallic acid (18.9 mg/g DM), were only detected in the rhizome extract. Sinapic acid (6.6 mg/g DM) was detected in the leaf extract only. Myricetin content of leaf extract (98.5 mg/g DM) was 3.7-fold higher compared with the rhizome extract. At 500 mg DM/ml, both extracts produced about 40 and 30 % anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cells and K562 cells, respectively. Both extracts had moderate nitric oxide-scavenging and iron-chelating activities. The leaf extract half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) value of 0.85 mg/ml (scavenging of superoxide radicals) was higher than that of ascorbic acid.

Conclusion: P. triloba is a potential source of anti-proliferative, antioxidant and iron-chelating agents. Its bioactivities may be attributed to the presence of phenolic constituents.

Keywords: Bioactivity, Fern, Phenolics, Anti-proliferative, Anti-oxidant, Iron-chelating, Phymatopteris triloba