Antimicrobial, Anticoagulant and Anticancer Effects of Arum Palaestinum Flowers Extracts

Abstract Background: Wild plants are amply utilized in traditional medicine and folkloric food worldwide. Arum palaestinum Boiss. (AP) is one of the wild Palestinian plants which leaves have a long history in the Middle Eastern countries as food and medicine. Herby, the current study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial, coagulation cascade activities, and anticancer effects of (AP) flowers extract Methods: The aqueous extract of (AP) flowers was screened on its antimicrobial activity using microdilution assay against eight pathogens. While, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time tests were measured utilizing standard hematological methods. And Anti cancer effect was assessed by using Parameters of cell cycles and alph feta protein level that were investigated for (AP) flowers fractionated with aqueous, DMSO, and methanol Results: The antimicrobial screening results revealed that the aqueous extract of (AP) has strong antibacterial effects against P. vulgaris and E. faecium compared with Ampicillin with MIC values of 6.25, 6.25 and 18 mg/ml, respectively. The aqueous extract of (AP) showed anticoagulant activity with significant prolonged results in aPTT and TT tests at high concentrations (50 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml) and slightly prolonged results in the PT test at a high concentration (50 mg/ml). The anticancer results indicate a delay in cell cycle through decreased the cell proliferation rate following effects of the AP fractions. The delay in the S phase was in favor of the water fraction. Water and DMSO fractions while maintained the cells in the G2-M phase similar to the DOX, the flower extract in methanol accelerated the cells in the G2-M phase suggesting that (AF) flower extracts have anti-cancer properties. At the same time Aqueous extract decreased HCC aFP to 1.55-fold (P=0.0008). While DMSO and methanolic extract had no significant effects on HCC aFP levels, compared to control untreated cells of 2519.16 ± 198.1 ng/ml. This data show that (AF) aqueous solution is potent inhibitor of alpha-fetoprotein secretion (P-value <0.05), which indicates its anti-carcinogenic effects Conclusion: These results showed that the aqueous extract of (AP) plant possesses bioactive components with antibacterial and anticoagulant properties, which may be exploited in the treatment of infectious diseases and blood coagulation disorders.