Mutagenic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, anti-lipoxygenase and antimicrobial activities of Scandix pecten-veneris L

Scandix pecten-veneris L. or Shepherd's-needle is a weed species used in some countries for medicinal purposes. In this study S. pecten-veneris leaves were shade dried, powdered and extracted with methanol. The purpose of this study was to assay the in vitro mutagenic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antilipoxygenase and antimicrobial activities of S. pecten-veneris leaf extract. The methanolic extract indicated no mutagenicity when tested with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. Antimutagenic activity was reported with inhibition of mutagenicity in a concentration dependent fashion. The methanolic extract demonstrated antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical-scavenging test (IC₅₀ = 4.57 mg/mL), comparable to ascorbic acid and BHT. Moreover, the extract presented a remarkable and potent inhibition against soybean lipoxygenase (IC₅₀ = 641.57 μg/mL). The methanolic extract was examined for its antimicrobial powers against four different bacteria with MIC values > 100. Our results introduced this plant as a useful factor for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory and infectious diseases.