Phytochemical Characterization of Dittrichia viscosa Olive Oil Macerate and Investigation of in vitro Anticancer Activity

Dittrichia viscosa, known as false yellowhead, is one of the natural medicinal plantsdisplaying anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and anticancer effects. One of the traditionalmethods, used since ancient times, is the oily maceration of herbs. In this study, for the first time, thecontent analysis and anticancer activities of extracts obtained from olive oil macerates of D. viscosaleaves and flowers were investigated in vitro. Using DMSO, extracts from i) olive oil as control (Doo) or macerates of ii) flowers of D. viscosa (D-Dv-F), iii) leaves of D. viscosa (D-Dv-L) wereobtained. Phytochemicals, total phenolic contents, antioxidant capacities, and flavonoid contents ofthe extracts were determined using the LC-MS/MS analysis, Folin-Ciocalteu method, CUPRACassay, and aluminum chloride calorimetric method, respectively. The in vitro anticancer activities ofDMSO extracts were also determined using an MTT cell proliferation assay against human bladdercancer cells (T-24) at concentrations of 0.05%-1% (v/v). According to the MTT cell proliferationassay, D-Dv-L, with a higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity than D-Dv-F and D-oo,exhibited in vitro anticancer activity. The obtained findings are promising for testing the anticanceractivity of D-Dv-L in vivo.