Phenolic profile, antioxidant, antidiabetic, DNA protection, and cytotoxic activities of Allium kurtzianum

Allium kurtzianum, known as wild garlic in Turkey, is an endemic and bulbous herb of the Amaryllidaceae family. The antioxidant activities of the aerial parts and bulbs of A. kurtzianum were determined using 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, along with the determination of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the extracts. Also, phytochemical screening of the extracts was performed by using the LC–MS/MS method. DNA damage protection capacity of the extracts was determined using DNA nicking assay. The cytotoxic activity of the extracts was identified using different cancer cell lines. The antidiabetic activity of the extracts was analysed by evaluating inhibitory capacities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The results showed that total phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the aerial parts were higher than that of the bulbs. Of the 20 compounds quantified, rutin and fumaric acid were the most abundant phenolic compounds in aerial parts and bulbs extracts, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the aerial parts was greater than that of the bulbs. The extracts also dose-dependently protected pBR322 DNA against the harmful effects of hydroxyl radicals. The aerial parts of A. kurtzianum exhibited a cytotoxic effect against prostate, lung, and endometrial cancer cell lines, whereas bulbs of A. kurtzianum did not show cytotoxic effect. However, no valuable inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase and α-amylase was observed with either extract. In summary, a methanolic extract from A. kurtzianum showed potent antioxidant and DNA protecting effects, as well as anticancer activity against some cancer cells in vitro. The phenolic compounds might be responsible for these activities of the plant.