Determination of the chemical composition, DNA cleavage, binding and antioxidant activities of Vincetoxicum scandens

Abstract

Vincetoxicum members offer important qualities in both conventional and modern medicine. In the present study, V. scandens from the northeast of Turkey (Trabzon city) was investigated for its phenolic compounds, antioxidant activities, DNA cleavage and binding effects. Phenolic compounds of the V. scandens methanol extract were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD), while their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant potential of the extract was characterised using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2’-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) tests. In addition, the DNA cleavage and binding features of the V. scandens extract were studied using pBR322 DNA and CT-DNA, respectively. The results indicated that the V. scandens methanol extract contained a large amount of catechin, as well as a high total phenolic and total flavonoid content. On the other hand, the DPPH and ABTS antioxidant tests revealed that V. scandens did not exhibit high antioxidant activity. The methanol extract of the studied plant was also rich in catechin, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid. While the V. scandens methanol extract exhibited weak antioxidant and DNA cleavage activity, it showed DNA binding activity at 50 µM, thus demonstrating the potential to be an intercalation agent in this concentration. This study provides the first report on the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DNA cleavage and DNA binding activity as well as antioxidant activity of V. scandens.