Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity of a Chemically Characterized Extract of Smilax aspera Leaves and Stems

The present study identifies the phytochemical profile of a hydroalcoholic extract derived from Smilax aspera leaves and stems, estimates its antioxidant capacity and evaluates its cytotoxic activity against glioblastoma (A172 cell line) and rhabdomyosarcoma (TE671 cell line). Chemical analysis of leaves and stems was performed with liquid chromatography analysis combined with a quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF/HRMS). The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated with the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the 2,2′-azinobis[3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-acid)] (ABTS) assays. Cell viability was examined using the alamar blue assay. Most of the compounds tentatively identified belonged to the flavonoids family, with rutin being the most abundant, followed by luteolin. The extract showed potent antioxidant activity which corresponded to 13.9 ± 1.91 μg/mL (DPPH assay) and 6.27 ± 1.7 μg/mL (ABTS assay), expressed as IC50 values. The extract inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells. The lowest IC50 value for A172 cells was observed 48 h after treatment and was calculated at 0.482 ± 0.98 mg/mL while for the TE671 cell line the lowest IC50 value was 0.629 ± 1.31 mg/mL, calculated 72 h after treatment. Considering the high biological value of flavonoids as health defense promoters, S. aspera leaves and stems can be an important natural source to consider as they may provide important health benefits. © 2023 by the authors