Cytotoxic effect of Myrtus communis, Aristolochia longa, and Calycotome spinosa on human erythrocyte cells

Leila Gadouche ^a

Azdinia Zidane ^b

Khayra Zerrouki ^b

Karima Azouni ^b

Saadia Bouinoune ^b

Affiliation

a University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Bab Ezzouar, Algeria

b Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef, Chlef, Algeria

Copyright ©Gadouche et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.

Received 21 June, 2021 | Accepted in revised form 12 July, 2021 | Published 15 October, 2021

DOI: http://doi.org/10.21603/2308-4057-2021-2-379-386

Abstract

Introduction. Myrtus communis, Aristolochia longa, and Calycotome spinosa are medicinal plants frequently used in Algeria. Some plants can cause a fragility of the erythrocyte membrane and lead to hemolysis. Therefore, we aimed to study the cytotoxicity of aqueous extracts from the aerial part of these species against red blood cells.
Study objects and methods. The hemolytic effect was determined spectrophotometrically by incubating an erythrocyte solution with different concentrations of the aqueous extracts (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/mL) at 37°C during one hour. In addition, we performed phytochemical screening and measured the contents of polyphenols and flavonoids.
Results and discussion. After one hour of incubation of human red blood cells with the aqueous extracts at different concentrations, the hemolysis percentage showed a significant leak of hemoglobin with A. longa (68.75 ± 6.11%; 200 mg/mL), the most toxic extract followed by C. spinosa (34.86 ± 5.06%; 200 mg/mL). In contrast, M. communis showed very low cytotoxicity (20.13 ± 3.11%; 200 mg/mL).
Conclusion. These plants are sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds but their use in traditional medicine must be adapted to avoid any toxic effect.

Keywords

Myrtus communis, Aristolochia longa, Calycotome spinosa, folk medicine, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, hemoglobin, cell toxicity, hemolytic activity

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How to quote?

Gadouche L, Zidane A, Zerrouki K, Azouni K, Bouinoune S. Cytotoxic effect of Myrtus communis, Aristolochia longa, and Calycotome spinosa on human erythrocyte cells. Foods and Raw Materials. 2021;9(2):379–386. https://doi.org/10.21603/2308-4057-2021-2-379-386.

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