Introduction: Throughout history, therapeutically active plant products have received substantial attention due
to their valuable role in the discoveries of specific medications. The aim of this study was to assess, for the first
time, the antimicrobial, antioxidant, antilipase, anti-α-amylase and cytotoxic properties of four fractions derived
from Anchusa ovata Lehm. (AO) leaves.
Methods: Antioxidant, antilipase and anti-amylase potentials of (AO) were established using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-
2-picrylhydrazyl), p-nitrophenyl butyrate and dinitro-salicylic acid procedures, respectively, while antimicrobial
activity was conducted using broth microdilution assay against eight Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacterial
strains in addition to one fungal strain. Moreover, the MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-
2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] cytotoxic assay was utilized against cervical cancer cells (HeLa).
Results: The methanol fraction of AO showed potential antioxidant, antilipase, and α-amylase inhibitory activities
with IC50 values of 9.55 ± 0.13, 53.7 ± 0.41 and 16.55 ± 1.84 μg/ml, respectively compared with the
positive controls Trolox, Orlistat and Acarbose that had IC50 values of 3.23 ± 0.92, 12.3 ± 0.35 and
28.18 ± 1.22 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the hexane, acetone, and methanol fractions had wide ranges of
antimicrobial potential. In addition, the cytotoxic activity outcomes which showed the best activity was for the
aqueous followed by acetone, hexane and methanol fractions with IC50 values of 1.04, 2.72, 3.96 and 17.67 mg/
ml, respectively.
Conclusion: Our data demonstrate a wide range of biological characteristics for each AO plant fraction. This
profiling information about the methanol fraction provided important data for further research and pharmaceutical
applications.The authors would like to acknowledge the Faculty of Medicine and
Health Sciences at An-Najah National University for facilitating the
accomplishment of the current study
