Istraživanje ljekovitog potencijala invazivnih biljaka

Invasive alien species threaten ecosystems but can offer medicinal benefits. This study explores the therapeutic potential of the invasive plant species Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Helianthus tuberosus L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., and Solidago canadensis L. by analysing the effects of their ethanolic leaf and flower extracts (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/mL) on glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in HEPG2 cells and culture media. The catalytic activity of the enzyme was measured spectrophotometrically after 24 hours of cell treatment with extracts by monitoring the change in absorbance at 340 nm during the conjugation of L-glutathione with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), a universal substrate for GST. The extracts modulated GST activity in both cellular lysates and extracellular media. GST activity in cell lysates decreased with increasing concentrations of A. altissima flower and R. pseudoacacia leaf extracts. Similarly, media samples exposed to all tested extracts showed reduced GST activity at higher concentrations, indicating a potential inhibitory effect. Conversely, R. pseudoacacia flower and S. canadensis leaf extracts increased GST activity in lysates at 0.5 and 1 mg/mL. These concentration-dependent fluctuations suggest complex interactions between plant compounds and GST, likely influenced by phenolic compounds such as ellagic acid and quercetin, known non-competitive GST inhibitors. Such inhibition may enhance the accumulation of toxic metabolites in cancer cells, increasing their vulnerability. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of invasive plant species and their specialised metabolites, opening avenues for further exploration of their role in regulating GST activity and their application in cancer treatment strategies.