Antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Castanea sativa (Fagaceae) extract: new therapeutic perspectives

Castanea sativa is particularly exploited in the Mediterranean basin, for fruit and wood production. Several authors studied the possible effects of C. sativa compounds as interesting ingredients for food supplements, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Some of the most antioxidant molecules are not always found in fruits, but in matrices richer in polyphenols like flowers or shells. In the present study, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties of C. sativa (Fagaceae) aqueous and ethanolic pellicle extracts were investigated for the first time. The ethanolic extract had the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid content and was also found to have the highest antioxidant activity in dose dependent manner. The antimicrobial tests showed that only ethanolic extract inhibited the growth of bacteria, whereas no activity was recorded by the aqueous extract. The cytotoxicity of both extracts was evaluated on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line by the MTT assay and reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination, suggesting a potential antiproliferative activity. Our results suggested that C. sativa ethanolic pellicle extract might represent a good natural source of antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer agents with potential health benefits.