harmacologyOnLine CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PERESKIA ACULEATA MILLER

Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae) is a climbing cactus native to South America and naturally distributed from south to northeast of Brazil, where the leaves are very appreciated as a vegetable in traditional cuisine. Leaves of P. aculeata are also used as anti-inflammatory, emollients and in skin wound healing in Brazilian folk medicine. Some other species of Pereskia genus are reported to be used as natural remedies against cancer and other diseases. The aim of this study was to perform a phytochemical characterization by thin-layer chromatography on chromatoplates sprayed by reagents for detection of the major classes of chemical constituents, and evaluate the cytotoxic activity of methanol crude extract of P. aculeata leaves and fractions against MCF-7 and HL60 cell lines by MTT assay. In addition, thin-layer chromatography DPPH bioautography was accomplished to investigate antioxidant compounds. The results showed that some fractions inhibited MCF-7 and HL60 cell proliferation, and that the most of antioxidant compounds found in P. aculeata leaves are phenol compounds. No activity was found against normal cells. These findings are interesting, since the leaves of this plant are commonly used as a food and there are no reports of toxicity for this vegetable.