Chemical profling and cytotoxic potential of the n-butanol fraction of Tamarix nilotica fowers

Abstract

Background Cancer represents one of the biggest healthcare issues confronting humans and one of the big chal‑ lenges for scientists in trials to dig into our nature for new remedies or to develop old ones with fewer side efects. Halophytes are widely distributed worldwide in areas of harsh conditions in dunes, and inland deserts, where, to cope with those conditions they synthesize important secondary metabolites highly valued in the medical feld. Several Tamarix species are halophytic including T.nilotica which is native to Egypt, with a long history in its tradition, found in its papyri and in folk medicine to treat various ailments. Methods LC–LTQ–MS–MS analysis and 1 H-NMR were used to identify the main phytoconstituents in the n- butanol fraction of T.nilotica fowers. The extract was tested in vitro for its cytotoxic efect against breast (MCF-7) and liver cell carcinoma (Huh-7) using SRB assay. Results T.nilotica n-butanol fraction of the fowers was found to be rich in phenolic content, where, LC–LTQ–MS– MS allowed the tentative identifcation of thirty-nine metabolites, based on the exact mass, the observed spectra fragmentation patterns, and the literature data, varying between tannins, phenolic acids, and favonoids. 1 H-NMR confrmed the classes tentatively identifed. The in-vitro evaluation of the n-butanol fraction showed lower activ‑ ity on MCF-7 cell lines with IC50>100 µg/mL, while the higher promising efect was against Huh-7 cell lines with an IC50= 37 µg/mL. Conclusion Our study suggested that T.nilotica fowers’n-butanol fraction is representing a promising cytotoxic can‑ didate against liver cell carcinoma having potential phytoconstituents with variable targets and signaling pathways.