Evaluation of biological activities of Rhaponticum carthamoides extracts

Rhaponticum carthamoides is an endemic medicinal plant of Siberian origin. Its roots tissue is well known as a rich source of biologically active compounds. R. carthamoides crude extracts were obtained with two different extraction methods (sonication and shaking) and three extraction solvents with different polarity (chloroform, methanol and water). All extract were screened for antioxidative activity (phosphomolybdenum assay, -carotene bleaching test, DPPH and FRAP tests), cytotoxic (MTT assay) and mutagenic activities (modified Ames test, with the use Vibrio harveyi strains). All tested extracts were able to reduce molybdenum and inhibit about 85 % of linoleic acid peroxidation. However, only water and methanol extracts reduced Fe+3 ions and scavenged DPPH free radical. On the other hand chloroform extracts indicated minor toxicity against all tested cell lines. None of the tested extracts showed mutagenic activity