Metabolite profiling, cytotoxicity, liver ROS detoxifiers and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Trachyandra ciliata L.F. (Kunth) (wild cabbage)

Introduction: Wild cabbage (Trachyandra ciliata) is one of the understudied, wild, edible halophytes from South Africa. Although its edibility has recently been validated, its therapeutic potential was yet to be explored. This research was carried out to profile and characterise the phytochemical content of T. ciliata extracts and evaluate its potential as a therapeutic agent for cancer, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in the liver. Methods: Cuttings of T. ciliata were grown under 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM salinity concentrations. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was employed to quantify and characterise metabolites in leaves, roots, and flower buds of T. ciliata. The yellow dye 3-(4,5-dimethyltiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), Ellman's colourimetric method, and the 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay (H2DCF-DA) were respectively employed to evaluate cytotoxicity, AChE antagonism, and ROS scavenging of the extracts of T. ciliata. Results: A total of 71 compounds were observed, which were grouped into flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, nucleobase, nucleosides/tide, saccharides, fatty acids, amino acids, and coumarins. A concentration of 1 mg/mL of extracts of T. ciliata flower buds prepared from plants grown at 0 mM and 100 mM salinity, showed strong cytotoxicity to cancer cells, however, the extracts also had moderate and weak cytotoxicity to non-cancer cells. All extracts inhibited AChE activity. Moreover, ROS scavenging was mainly observed primarily in the extracts of leaves from plants grown at all salinities, and in the extract of roots from plants grown at 0 mM salinity treatment. Conclusion: A maiden documentation of anticancer, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and ROS scavenging activity of crude extracts of T. ciliata was achieved in this study. These findings suggest that T. ciliata could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and liver disorders, amidst the quest to develop more plant-based pharmaceuticals for the treatment of chronic diseases.