ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORY AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF TURKISH ENDEMIC CENTAUREA ANTIOCHIA VAR-PRAEALTA

Abstract

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of extract from the Centaurea antiochia Boiss. var. praealta (Boiss. & Bal.) Wagenitz, an endemic plant species from Turkey, were investigated. The results indicated that the extract inhibits FeCl3/ascorbic acid-induced phosphatidylcholine liposome oxidation, scavenges stable 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation radicals, and reduces Fe3+ to Fe2+ in the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The extract inhibited AChE and both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, which suggests this species might be a potential source of plant-derived anti-inflammatory and anti-AChE substances. The extract may also act as an antimicrobial agent because it inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as yeast. These findings may scientifically explain some uses of this species in Turkish folk medicine as an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent.