Phytochemical screening and biological activities of some species of alpinia and Convolvulus plants

Abstract

Background and Objective: The safety, low toxicity and clinical effectiveness of naturally occurring compounds increased the attention of researchers to the biological activity of plants. Accordingly, the current study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial and anticancer activities of three different species of Alpinia and Convolvulus plants. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical contents and biological activity of Alpinia calcarata (A. calcarata), Alpinia purpurata (A. purpurata), Alpinia zerumbet (A. zerumbet), Convolvulus arvensis (C. arvensis), Convolvulus austro-aegyptiacus (C. austro-aegyptiacus) and Convolvulus pilosellifolius (C. pilosellifolius) extracts were determined. Antimicrobial, anticancer and toxic activities were assessed against clinically-isolated test organisms, different cell lines and laboratory animals, respectively. Results: The investigated plants contain carbohydrates and/or glycosides, flavonoids, sterols and/or triterpenes, protein and/or amino acids, tannins and alkaloids. Anthraquinones was only detected in A. calcarata, A. purpura, A. zerumbet. All plant extracts exhibited very good antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activities. However, the C. austro-aegyptiacus exhibited remarkable antimicrobial activity. The C. arvensis and C. pilosellifolius demonstrated antitumor activity (6.1±03) and (16.4±0.3), respectively higher than the antitumor activity of vinblastine sulphate (30.3±1.4) against CACO (colorectal carcinoma). Nevertheless, A. purpurata showed antitumor activity against HCT-116 (colon carcinoma), 4.3±1.3, similar to the vinblastine sulphate. Conclusion: Results of current study indicated that the alcoholic extracts of Alpinia sp. and Convolvulus sp. plants have antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Moreover, C. arvensis and C. pilosellifolius possess an excellent anticancer activity and should be used as therapeutic antitumor agents against colorectal carcinoma.