DNA fingerprinting, biological and chemical investigation of certain <i>Yucca</i> species

<p><i>Yucca aloifolia</i>, <i>Y. aloifolia variegata, Y. elephantipes</i> and <i>Y. filamentosa</i> were investigated. DNA sequencing was performed for the four plants and a genomic DNA fingerprint was obtained and provided. The cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines were investigated. The ethanolic extracts of leaves of <i>Y. aloifolia variegata</i> prevailed, especially against liver cancer HepG-2 and breast cancer MCF-7. <i>In vivo</i> assessment of hepatoprotective activity in rats also revealed the hepatoprotective potential of the ethanolic extracts of the four plants against CCl₄- induced rats’ liver damage. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the flavonoid and phenolic content of the promising species was performed using HPLC. The analysis identified and quantified 18 flavonoids and 19 phenolic acids in the different fractions of <i>Y. aloifolia variegat</i>a, among which the major flavonoids were hesperidin and kaemp-3-(2-<i>p</i>-coumaroyl) glucose and the major phenolic acids were gallic acid and protocatechuic acid.</p