Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Methanolic Extract from Celandine

Celandine (Chelidonium majus, family Papaveraceae) is an herb used extensively in traditional Korean medicine. To investigate its antioxidant and antiproliferative activities, the methanolic extract of celandine was introduced. The antioxidant properties of the extract were tested using various in vitro systems, including hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, DNA damage protection assay, 1,1-diphenyll-2-2-pricylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, and reducing power assay. The extract exhibited stronger antioxidant activity ($IC_{50}=7.92{\mu}g/mL$) against hydroxyl radicals in the Fenton system than butylated hydroxyanisole ($IC_{50}=51.46{\mu}g/mL$) and $\alpha$-tocopherol ($IC_{50}=67.48{\mu}g/mL$). Likewise, damage to the plasmid pBR 322 induced by hydroxyl radicals was found to be protected by the extract at a concentration of $400{\mu}g/mL$. Cellular proliferation and the induction of apoptosis were also examined by a cellular proliferation assay, flow cytometry, and mRNA expression analysis. Taken together, the extract significantly inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and gradually increased both the proportion of apoptotic cells and the expression of caspase-3. Overall, our research suggests that celandine possesses antioxidant and antiproliferative properties.