Phytochemical Screening and Pharmacological Activities of Echium judaeum Lacaita Extracts Growing Wild in Jordan

Abstract

Echium judaeum Lac. (Boraginaceae) growing wild in Jordan has not been studied before phytochemically and pharmacologically. In this study the hydro-alcoholic extract was analyzed using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Total phenols and flavonoids were determined colorimetrically. Using SRB assay, the anti-proliferative effect against a panel of colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116, SW620 and CACO2) was determined. Moreover anti- lipedimic and anti-obesity effects were examined, in addition to the determination of median lethal dose (LD50) of the aqueous extract. UPLC-MS analysis resulted in the identification of 6 compounds; luteolin, kaempferol, esculin, rosmarinic acid, echiumine and echimidine. LD50 was more than 3000mg/kg body weight. Neither anti-obesity nor anti-proliferative effects were detected. Since E. judaeum is a safe species and contains phenolic compounds, further pharmacological screening is recommended.