Phenolic composition, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects on HeLa and HepG2 cancer cell lines of Mespilus germanica grown in Turkey

This study screened flavonoids and phenolic acids, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of Mespilus germanica leaf and fruit samples. The RP-HPLC-DAD analysis allowed the identification of hesperidin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, benzoic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, protocatechuic, syringic, caffeic, ferulic, sinapic and p-coumaric acids in various extracts. Fruit alkaline-hydrolysable phenolic acids extract (BHPA), leaf bound phenolic acids from basic hydrolysis-2 extract (BPBH2) and leaf free flavan-3-ol extract exhibited the largest DPPH, OH and NO radicals scavenging activity, respectively. Leaf flavone extract showed strong cytotoxicity on the HepG2 cell line (IC50 = 36.49 ± 1.12 μg/mL) as well as good •OH scavenging and Fe2+ chelation activities. Additionally, leaf bound phenolic acids from acid hydrolysis-1 extract (BPAH1) demonstrated strong cytotoxicity on the HeLa cell line (IC50 = 36.24 ± 1.89 μg/mL). This study suggests Turkish medlar as a natural source of phenolic compounds with potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries as anticancer/antioxidant agents.