Abstract
Sideritis scardica (mountain tea) is an endemic plant on the Balkan
Peninsula traditionally used for treating different conditions, mainly of
inflammatory nature. This study was aimed to examine the cytotoxic activity
of different S. scardica extracts against the rat glioma C6 line and
rat astrocytes in primary culture. The obtained data revealed that diethyl
ether (extract 2) and ethyl acetate (extract 3) extracts of S.
scardica exerted a cytotoxic effect on C6 rat glioma cells. Diethyl
ether extract induced an increase in reactive oxygen species production,
leading to apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Ethyl acetate extract
induced G2 M cell cycle arrest and autophagy. None of the tested
extracts was cytotoxic to rat astrocytes in primary culture. Cytotoxic
effects of S. scardica extracts were, at least in part, mediated by
their flavonoid constituents apigenin and luteolin that, when applied alone,
induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy.
Key words
Sideritis scardica
- Lamiaceae - apigenin - luteolin - C6 glioma cells - autophagy