COMPARISON STUDY OF PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE, CYTOTOXICITY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ARBUTUS PAVARII AND ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS L., PLANTS

Background: In Libya, arbutus and rosemary are used in traditional medicine to relieve pain and inflammation; however, the biological basis for these actions has not been fully studied.
Objective of the study: This study set out to characterize and examine the pharmacological characteristics of the phenolic and flavonoid chemicals found in the aerial sections of rosemary and Arbutus.
Material and methods: Arbutus pavarii and rosmarinus officinalis l., plants aerial parts were tested for antioxidant activity (DPPH), cell viability and cytotoxic effects. Phenolic and flavonoid contents (HPLC), and volatile constituents (GC-MS) were also characterized.

Results: The methanol extract of rosemary aerial parts had the highest antioxidant activity, while the methanolic extract of Arbutus aerial parts had the lowest. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Rosemary increased from (32.12±1..74 %) at a concentration of 10 µg/mL to (98.47±0.81%) at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL. While the methanol extract Arbutus aerial parts increased from (30.12±1.75%) at a concentration of 10 µg/mL to (98.17±0.81%) at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL. MTT assay revealed that the methanol extract of Extract of Rosemary and Arbutus aerial parts had significant cytotoxic effects on the A549 and WI38 cell lines, respectively. MTT assay of methanol extract of Rosemery has cytotoxic effects higher than methanolic extract of Arbutus aerial parts. Rosmarinic and Caffeic were the most abundant phenolic acid, followed by p-coumaric, ferulic, syringic, and gallic acids, respectively in methanolic extract of rosemary, on the other hand, the Quercetin and Myricetin were the most abundant phenolic acid. GC-mass analysis showed that aerial parts of Rosemary were rich in Rosmarinic acid and the methanolic extract of Arbutus aerial parts was rich in Quercetin phynolic acid.

Conclusion: Based on the observed data, it can be stated that the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of rosemary are greater than those of arbutus aerial parts. One potential source of readily available natural bioactive ingredients with potential health and therapeutic advantages is the methanolic extract of rosmarinus officinalis l and arbutus pavarii.