Abstract
In the present work, we have examined the composition of phytochemicals in the ethanolic extract of Haloxylon persicum Bunge and its biological activities. The measurements of the biological activities included its antioxidant behavior; antimicrobial activities against pathogenic fungi, gram-positive, and gram-negative bacteria; and anticancerous activity against hepatocellular (HepG-2), lung (A-549), breast (MCF-7), and colon (HCT-116) cancer cells. The analysis of the chemical composition showed the highest preponderance of tannins and the lowest for flavonoids. There were wide variations in the antioxidant activities that were dependent on the measures used (scavenging of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical and superoxide radical anion, O· 2 −) compared to ascorbic acid or butylated hydroxyl anisole. The concentration of the extract needed to cause 50% growth inhibition varied about threefold among different cancer cells with HepG-2 being the most sensitive and A-549 the least. The test of the antimicrobial potential showed Candida albicans to be the most sensitive with no activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium italicum, Streptococcus mutants, and Enterobacter cloacae. The measurement of the effect of extract on the liver and kidney markers in the rat serum revealed no change in the activities suggesting safety of the extract. Therefore, ethanolic extract of H. persicum Bunge need further investigation for its possible use in humans.