Abstract
In the present study, the seed oil from Onopordum acanthium. L and methanolic extract of the defatted meal were evaluated for their cytotoxic effect and antioxidant potential. The phenolic composition of the defatted meal was determined with RP-HPLC-UV and tocopherols levels in the crude oil were also assessed. Overall, the methanolic extract exhibited the best amount of total phenolics and flavonoids content (78.06 +/- 0.55 mg GAE/g on DW basis and 20.38 +/- 0.21 mg RE/g on DW basis, respectively). Seven phenolic compounds were identified with cinnamic acids as the major components (67.2%) and epicatechin was the dominant flavan-3-ol. Additionally, three individual tocopherols were determined and a-tocopherol was the main isomer (914.8 +/- 0.02mg/kg). Data of antioxidant performance showed superior antioxidant capacity in methanol extract. Moreover methanolic extract from defatted seeds was more active towards HepG2 cancer cells than the crude oil(IC50 of 44.05 +/- 3.54 mu g/ml) and showed less cytotoxicity towards AML12 normal hepatocytes in comparison to doxorubicin indicating at least some tumor-specific action.