Phytochemical screening and in vitro assessments of antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials of extracts from Aesculus hippocastanum L. green fruit mesocarps

In this study, the in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of water and methanol extracts obtained from the green fruit mesocarp of Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Hippocastanaceae) were investigated. Phytochemical content of the methanol extract and the water extract were determined by qualitative methods; antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging test, and total antioxidant capacity was determined by phosphomolybdate test. The effects of the extracts on proliferation and cell viability of BJ normal human foreskin fibroblasts were also evaluated by the WST-8 cell viability test. Qualitative phytochemical screening results showed that the methanol extract contains phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins, but no alkaloids and anthraquinones. On the other hand, phenols, flavonoids, anthraquinone, and saponins were found in the water extract, tannins and alkaloids could not be detected. In addition, an increase in antioxidant activity was also observed with each increasing concentration of methanol and water extract. When the antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity of methanol and water extracts were compared, it was determined that the methanol extract was more effective than that the water extract. The WST-8 trial results showed that both water and methanol extracts obtained from the green fruit mesocarp of A. hippocastanum did not have cytotoxic effects on BJ cells, on the contrary, treatment concentrations of 10, 20 and, 30 µgmL-1 increased cell proliferation significantly at the 24-hour work.