Bioactivity and chemical characterization in hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds of Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

Abstract

• C. ambrosioides infusion revealed higher antioxidant activity . • Methanolic extract gave higher growth inhibitory activity of human tumour cell lines. • Neither the infusion nor the extract revealed toxicity for non-tumour cells. • Several phytochemicals , namely phenolic compounds, were identified. • This is the first detailed chemical characterization of C. ambrosioides . The bioactive properties (antioxidant and antitumour activities, and hepatotoxicity) of the infusion and methanolic extracts of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., a plant commonly used in Portuguese folk medicine, were compared. The chemical composition in hydrophilic (sugars, organic acids and phenolic compounds) and lipophilic (fatty acids and tocopherols) fractions were determined. In general, the infusion revealed higher antioxidant activity, while the methanolic extract was the only one showing antitumour effects against colon, cervical and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. No toxicity in non-tumour cells was observed either for the infusion or the extract. The studied plant proved to be a good source of natural antioxidants and other bioactive compounds, which may have industrial use. As far as we know, this is the first detailed chemical characterization and bioactivity evaluation of C. ambrosioides methanolic extract and infusion.