Chemical Profile, Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Activities of Genista januensis subsp. lydia (Boiss.) Kit Tan & Ziel (Fabaceae)

The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer and antioxidant activities of the G. januensis subsp. lydia (Fabaceae) and to isolate the phytochemical compounds responsible for these activities. In this study, the G. januensis plant was extracted by maceration with increasing polarity and the anticancer activity of the crude extracts was investigated by performing cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cell cycle analyses. In addition, the total phenolic/flavonoid content was determined in crude extracts and antioxidant activity. According to the results of anticancer and antioxidant activities, the EtOAc extract was found to have the highest activity and this extract was selected for an isolation study. All purified flavonoid compounds from the EtOAc extract were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy methods and compared with the literature data. A new biflavonoid (4) was isolated together with three known isoflavonoids (Genistein (1), Genistin (2) and 4'-hydroxy isoflavon (3)) from Genista januensis subsp. lydia (Fabaceae). MTT analysis of the compounds 2, 3, and 4 was utilized to evaluate the anticancer activity. Moreover, compound 4 had antioxidant activities determined. These findings suggest that G. januensis subsp. lydia has potential for further study as a natural source of antiproliferative and antioxidant agents.