Phytochemical and pharmacological characterisation of extracts from Scorzonera undulata Vahl. roots

Scorzonera undulata Vahl. roots are used for their nutraceutical and medicinal properties. In this work, GC-MS revealed that polysaccharides (P) and the methanolic extract (MB) of S. undulata roots contained 8 and 7 different components, respectively. They also potently inhibited the Free DPPH radical (IC50% equals 103 ± 0.01 and 105 ± 0.01 µg/ml, respectively) and the viability of Hela cancer cell line (IC50 of 2.074 ± 0.05 mg/ml and 2.208 ± 0.05 mg/ml respectively). Furthermore, polysaccharides showed a relevant anti-inflammatory effect, as assayed by on carrageenan-induced paw edoema model. S. undulata contains several active molecules such as derivatives of gluconic acid, hexapyranosids, arabinofuranoside, and xylofuranose that might be useful in preventing and treating cancer and inflammation. It merits further investigations to pinpoint their mechanisms of action and their properties as a functional food.