Artemisia annua l. Extract: A new phytoproduct with sod-like and antitumour activity

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antitumour potential of Artemisia annua L., harvested from Romania, Bihor area. Artemisinin, quercetin and galic acid have been identified using the LC-MS method. Hypothesis that Artemisia annua L. antitumour effect relays on the modulation of antioxidant activity of SOD has been tested using the SOD defective S. cerevisiae model. According to our results, Artemisia annua L. revealed a selective inhibitory effect on tumour cells of WM35 melanoma cell line in vitro, with a calculated IC50 three times lower as compared to normal HDF fibroblasts. Also, in vivo studies on Ehrlich carcinoma model revealed the amplification effect of Artemisia annua L. on the cytostatic effect of doxorubicin. On both in vivo and in vitro models, the inhibition of the tumour cell proliferation was associated with inhibition of the activities of antioxidative enzymes activities, thus antitumour effect of Artemisia annua L. might be related to oxidative alterations in malignant cells.