Cyclic voltammograms, with a scanned potential range (E_app) comprised between -0.2 V and +0.8 V <i>vs</i> Ag/AgCl reference electrode, in the absence (black line) and in the presence of 2 mg/mL of aqueous (red line: Water 50 °C) and hydro-ethanolic (blue line: Ethanol 40%) <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i> leaf (A) and root (B) extracts.

Cyclic voltammograms, with a scanned potential range (Eapp) comprised between -0.2 V and +0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode, in the absence (black line) and in the presence of 2 mg/mL of aqueous (red line: Water 50 °C) and hydro-ethanolic (blue line: Ethanol 40%) P. lagopus leaf (A) and root (B) extracts.</p

Cyclic voltammograms, with a scanned potential range (E_app) comprised between -0.2 V and +0.8 V <i>vs</i> Ag/AgCl reference electrode, in the absence (black line) and in the presence of 2 mg/mL of aqueous (red line: Water 50 °C) and hydro-ethanolic (blue line: Ethanol 40%) <i>P</i>. <i>major</i> leaf (A) and root (B) extracts.

Cyclic voltammograms, with a scanned potential range (Eapp) comprised between -0.2 V and +0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode, in the absence (black line) and in the presence of 2 mg/mL of aqueous (red line: Water 50 °C) and hydro-ethanolic (blue line: Ethanol 40%) P. major leaf (A) and root (B) extracts.</p

Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of roots and leaves of <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>major</i>.

The values of EC50 are presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3 independent experiments).</p

Effect of 12 h treatments with <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i> leaf (A) and root (B) hydro-ethanolic extracts on viability of CaCo-2 and RKO cancer cells.

* †significantly different at p p < 0.1, respectively.</p

Contains all the supporting tables and figures.

Plantago major L. and Plantago lagopus L. are cosmopolitan species, belonging to the Plantaginaceae family, used in traditional and modern medicine. In this study, a phytochemical evaluation of different aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots of both species from the region of Beja in Tunisia was performed. Some biological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial were also done. LC-MS qualitative analysis revealed that the aqueous extracts of the roots of P. lagopus were richer in polyphenols, mainly flavonoids (Luteoline 7-rutinoside, Luteoline 7-rhamnoside) and hydroxycinnamic acids including caffeic acid, than the hydro-ethanolic extracts. Additionally, we identified for the first time the presence of salicylic acid in the hot aqueous extracts of roots of P. lagopus and its absence in the roots of P. major. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), revealing that the voltammograms of leaf and root extracts from P. lagopus exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity compared to those of P. major. Antiproliferative activity, was determined against two-colon cancer cell lines, demonstrated that only the 12 h treatments with P. lagopus leaf and root aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts at low concentration were able to significantly reduce the colon carcinoma coli-2 (CaCo-2) cells proliferation. The antibacterial /antibiofilm activity was performed on yeast, Gram- negative and +positive bacterial strains. We demonstrated for the first time that ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots of P. lagopus have an inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia at MIC = 2 μg/mL for leaves and 4 μg/mL for roots.</div

Effect of 12 h treatments with <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i> leaf (A) and root (B) extracts attained with hot water at 50 °C on viability of CaCo-2 and RKO cancer cells.

Effect of 12 h treatments with P. lagopus leaf (A) and root (B) extracts attained with hot water at 50 °C on viability of CaCo-2 and RKO cancer cells.</p

Phytochemicals detected by LC-MS in heated-water and hydro-ethanolic leaf and root extracts of <i>P</i>. <i>major</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i>. ^X ^Y.

Phytochemicals detected by LC-MS in heated-water and hydro-ethanolic leaf and root extracts of P. major and P. lagopus. X Y.</p

MIC, MBC and MBIC values attained for the tested Gram-negative bacteria following the amendment with 40% ethanolic extracts of two <i>Plantago</i> species ^X observed in the Gram-negative bacteria tested.

MIC, MBC and MBIC values attained for the tested Gram-negative bacteria following the amendment with 40% ethanolic extracts of two Plantago species X observed in the Gram-negative bacteria tested.</p

Extraction yield (% of DM) from different organs of <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>major</i> ^x.

Extraction yield (% of DM) from different organs of P. lagopus and P. major x.</p

Area under curve of CVs at +0.5 and +0.8 V applied potential of <i>P</i>. <i>lagopus</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>major</i> leaf and root extracts^X.

Area under curve of CVs at +0.5 and +0.8 V applied potential of P. lagopus and P. major leaf and root extractsX.</p