Chemical characterization, antidiabetic and anticancer activities of Santolina chamaecyparissus .

Santolina chamaecyparissus is an important medicinal plant growing in the Mediterranean region and has been reported as a potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal agent. The purpose of the current research is to identify the chemical constituents in ethyl acetate extract (EAE) from the leaves of S. chamaecyparissus , and to evaluate antidiabetic, and anticancer activity. Chemical constituents of EAE were identified by GC-MS, and the antidiabetic activity was evaluated by α-glucosidase inhibition assay. The anticancer activity was assessed by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression in human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) by using quantitative RT-PCR method. GC-MS analysis of EAE of S. chamaecyparissus yielded 44 compounds. Tetrapentacontane (27.15%), eicosyl acetate (8.40%), 2-methylhexacosane (6.87%), and n -pentadecanol (5.44%) were found as major chemical constituents. The EAE of S. chamaecyparissus showed concentration dependant inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme and the IC ₅₀ value (IC ₅₀ 110 ± 4.25 µg/mL) was found comparable with standard acarbose (IC ₅₀ 105 ± 3.74 µg/mL). The real-time qRT-PCR results showed that the EGFR protein ( bcl-2 ) in human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) was negatively expressed with a value of -0.69297105 after treatment with EAE (100 µg/mL). The study results are suggesting the possible use of S. chamaecyparissus in the management of diabetes, and human breast cancer.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
(© 2021 The Author(s).)