Comparative Evaluation of Phenolic Profile, Antioxidative and Cytotoxic Activities of Different Geranium Species

Cranesbill (Geranium species) are used traditionally as tonic, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antihemorrhoidal, diuretic and for the treatment of cough, fever, tonsillitis, urticaria, kidney pain and gastrointestinal ailments. The leaves of some Geranium species are consumed in traditional Turkish cousin as salad or added to pastry. In the present study, different extracts from G. psilostemon and G. stepporum of the plants were prepared and their SO, NO and ABTS radical scavenging activites were tested. Also, cytotoxic activities of extracts against KB human epidermoid carcinoma cell line tested by MTT method. While EtOAc extracts showed strong radical scavenging activity against SO, NO and ABTS radicals (IC50 of EtOAc extracts of G. psilostemon 29.4, 98.4, µg/ml for SO and NO respectively and TEAC value 0.371 ± 0.29 µM TE) cytotoxic activity against KB cell line was observed for the water extracts of tested species. In order to evaluate phytochemical content of the species; total phenolic, total flavonoid and total flavonol contents of the extracts were estimated and major compounds of the extracts were determined as gallic acid, methyl gallate and pusilagin using HPLC-DAD system. Taken together, the results showed that gallic acid derivatives are important for the bioactivities of Geranium species, and it may be promising possible sources for future novel antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations.