Abstract
An investigation of the chemical constituents of the ethanolic extract of Asphodelus refractus herb, led to the isolation of new 1,3,4-trihydroxy-8-methoxy-2-methyl anthraquinone- Refractlin(2), together with four known Compounds 1,3,4, and 5 were identified as Chryseophanol, Luteolin, p- hydroxyphenethyl trans-ferulate and 7 hydroxy emodin, respectively. Their chemical structures have been deduced on the basis of 1D (H-1 and C-13), 2D (HMQC, and HMBC) NMR, UV, IR and ESI/MS spectral studies. The total extract and Ethyl acetate extract were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against human Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2), Colon carcinoma (HCT-116), and Lung carcinoma (A-549) cell lines. The antioxidant activities were also evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), assay method. The measurement of polyphenolics by folin - ciocalteau reagent and flavonoid by N alpha NO2-AlCl3-N alpha OH indicated that 30 mg rutin and 52 mg gallic acid equivalents/1gram of powdered Asphodelus refractus herb, respectively.