Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip. methanolic extract exerts potent antimicrobial activity and causes cancer cell death via induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis and S-phase arrest

Abstract

This study was done to evaluate the anticancer potential of Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip. leaves methanolic extract in detail for the first time, in addition to investigating its antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial assay revealed that the extract exerted high activity against P. vulgaris (MIC = 156.25 µg/ml) and C. albicans (MIC = 625 µg/ml), while moderate activity was observed against other microbes. The extract was also screened against HepG2, A549, HCT116 and MCF7 cancer cells and was found to be active across all cells with highest selectivity and cytotoxic activity being observed for A549 cells (IC50 = 1.21 µg/ml). Further mechanistic studies on A549 cells showed that the extract resulted in S-phase arrest and induced apoptosis via activation of caspase-3, p53 and Bax, in addition to downregulation of Bcl-2. HR-LCMS analysis indicated the presence of 3-hydroxycoumarin, quercetin 3,3′-dimethyl ether and skullcapflavone II which might be responsible for the extract’s bioactivity.