In vitro antimitotic and cytotoxic potentials of aqueous and organic extracts of Rhamnus alaternus: Correlation with chemical composition and in vivo acute oral toxicity evaluation

Rhamnus alaternus L. is a shrub known for its beneficial digestive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antihyperglycemic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the antimitotic and cytotoxic activities of aqueous (decocted, infused and macerated) and organic (methanolic, methanolic macerated, chloroform, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether) extracts of R. alaternus using two assays: the Lepidium sativum phytotest and the brine shrimp lethality test. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to analyze correlations between chemical composition and the two biological activities. An in vivo study of the acute oral toxicity of the most in vitro active plant extracts was carried out on mice. The results of the antimitotic activity study showed that decocted and ethyl acetate extract were the most active, with IC50 values of 25.403 ± 0.153 mg/mL and 6.050 ± 0.037 mg/mL, respectively. Similarly, these two extracts possess the most potent cytotoxic effect with LC50 values of 7.420 ± 0.135 mg/mL and 0.355 ± 0.004 mg/mL, respectively. Correlation analysis between chemical composition and the two in vitro activities revealed a significantly positive correlation. The acute toxicity study of the decocted, methanolicextract and ethyl acetate extract revealed that all three extracts caused no mortality in mice and consequently, the LD50 was estimated to be ≥ 5000 mg/kg. The results obtained suggest that R. alaternus leaves may have anticancer properties, particularly the decocted, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts, in addition to demonstrating safety.