JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, vol.24, no.4, 2018 (ESCI)
The objective of present study was to specify the antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anticholinesterase, and antityrosinase activities of Verbascum oocarpum Murb., together with its volatile components. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of V. oocarpum indicated substantial antioxidant activity derived from benzoic acid, sinapic acid, and quercetin compounds. The methanolic extract displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. It also exhibited a higher IC50 value on tyrosinase than kojic acid, and lower acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor activities than galantamin. MTT analysis revealed that high concentrations of V. oocarpum extract can result in cytotoxicity, with an IC50 of 0.444 mg/mL. Common volatile components included pentadecane, hex-2(E)-enal, limonene, phenylacetaldehyde, isophorone, 1-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-benzene, 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2(4h)-benzofuranone and hexadecane. V. oocarpummay be of potential benefit to the food, cosmetical, and pharmaceutical sectors owing to its potent anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, volatile components, and limited cytotoxicity.