Nutrient composition, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Clausena excavata and Murraya koenigii leaves

Clausena excavata (CE) and Murraya koenigii (MK) have shown potential medicinal values of herbal plants, thus they were investigated for their nutrient composition. MK possessed higher carbohydrate but lower fiber than CE. Vitamin A is higher in MK but lower vitamin C and E than CE. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of CE and MK crude extracts and essential oils and the composition of essential oil were also examined. The hydrodistilled essential oil was analysed by GC/MS. CE and MK leaf oils were made up of safrole and β-farnesene. Phenolic contents of the methanolic extracts of both plants were higher than the water extracts with CE exhibited higher phenolic content. Antioxidant activities were measured via inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation and scavenging of DPPH radicals. The methanolic extracts exhibited significant activities in both assays. MK methanolic extract and oil significantly inhibited linoleic acid oxidation but weakly scavenged DPPH radical than CE. Antiproliferative activities against HepG2, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HeLa and CAOV3 were determined using MTT assay. MK methanolic extract and oil possessed the most potent antiproliferative effects. In conclusion, the methanolic extracts especially MK have the great potential in antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Further investigations are required to explain the underlying mechanisms.