Abstract:
Sideritis perfoliata L. subsp. perfoliata is an endemic species of the Eastern Mediterranean
region with several uses in traditional medicine. The present study aims to explore the unknown
properties of S. perfoliata investigating the nutritional content as well as the antioxidant, anticancer,
antituberculosis, antiwrinkle, anti-acne, hyper/hypo-pigmentation and antibacterial activities. Mineral
content, nutritional value, the composition and antioxidant properties of the essential oil, the
antityrosinase, the antibacterial activity and anti-elastase potential of the extract, were evaluated. The
antiproliferative activity of S. perfoliata against cervical cancer (HeLa), human melanoma (UCT-Mel-1),
human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) was investigated.
Cytotoxic e ects on normal human keratinocyte (HaCat) and kidney epithelial (Vero) cell lines were
also determined. Sideritis perfoliata exhibited high nutritional value of proteins and minerals (K, P,
Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu). The most abundant components of the essential oil were found to be -pinene,
-phelladrene, valeranone, -pinene and sabinene. The ethanolic extract of S. perfoliata displayed
moderate antioxidant potential and antibacterial activity against Prevotella intermedia. Noteworthy
elastase and moderate anticancer potential against the human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) was
observed with IC50 values of 57.18 3.22 g/mL and 64.27 2.04 g/mL respectively. The noteworthy
in vitro activity of S. perfoliata could be due to the presence of flavonoids and phenols in the leaves,
having high nutritional value. Sideritis perfoliata could potentially be useful to reduce the appearance
of wrinkles and for the treatment of liver cancer. The moderate antibacterial, antioxidant and elastase
activity of the plant can be linked to the traditional use of S. perfoliata for the treatment of wounds
and inflammation.
