in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, cholinesterase inhibitory activities and anti-genotoxic effects of hypericum retusum aucher flowers, fruits and seeds methanol extracts in human mononuclear leukocytes

the present study investigates the antioxidant, anticancer, anticholinesterase, anti-genotoxic activities and phenolic contents of flower, fruit and seed methanol extracts of hypericum retusum aucher. the amounts of protocatechuic acid, catechin, caffeic acid and syringic acid in methanol extracts were determined by hplc. total phenolic content of h. retusum seed extract was found more than fruit and flower extracts. the dpph free radical scavenging activity of flower and seed methanol extracts showed close activity versus bht as control. among three extract of h. retusum only flower methanol extract was exhibited considerable cytotoxic activities against to hela and nrk-52e cell lines. moreover, seed methanol extract showed both acetyl and butyrl-cholinesterase inhibitory activity. the highest anti-genotoxic effects were seen 25 and 50 μg/ml concentrations. in this study, the extracts showed a strong antioxidant and anti-genotoxic effect. the seed extract was more efficiently than extracts of fruit and flowers. our results suggest that the antioxidant and anti-genotoxic effects of extracts depend on their phenolic contents. further studies should evaluate the in vitro and in vivo the benefits of h. retusum seed methanol extracts.