Research Article

In Vitro Assessment of the Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, and Hemolytic Activities of Hydroalcoholic Eruca sativa Leaf Extract from Najaf, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Eruca sativa is a medical plant species famous for its various phytochemical components and biological activities. The objective of this study was to assess the antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and hemolytic activities of a hydro-alcoholic extract obtained from the leaves of E. sativa, which have been collected from local markets of Najaf city, Iraq. Methods: Antioxidant activity was performed through the DPPH free radical scavenging test, while antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria using the agar well diffusion technique. Cytotoxicity was done on the rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell line through the MTT test, and hemocompatibility was done by red blood cell hemolysis test. Results: 12.9% of crude extract was achieved. From the DPPH assay, it was found that the concentration-dependent antioxidant activity of the extract had various values for percent inhibition of the radical scavenging activity ranging between 49.6%-85.2%. On testing the antibacterial activity of the extract, it was found that it inhibited the growth of MRSA more than Escherichia coli with maximum inhibition zones of 13.5 and 8.5 mm, respectively. From the MTT test, it was found that the extract had concentration-dependent decrease in viability of the RD cell line with an IC50 value of 0.32 mg/ml. It could be said that no hemolysis of the red blood cells was detected at the various concentrations used in the experiment. Conclusion: The extract exhibited a high antioxidant effect and was able to achieve up to 85% of free radical scavenging. In addition, it had antibacterial effect on both S. aureus and E. coli. The extract had a cytotoxic effect on cancerous RD cells with IC50 of 0.32 mg/ml. 

Authors affiliation:

Zahraa Kamil Lawi (ORCID): Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf 54001, Iraq.
Raheem Abd Zaid AL-Abedi (ORCID): Department of Pathological Analysis, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Iraq.
Adyan Rasim Hussain: Department of Pathological Analysis, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Iraq.
Sara Riad Mohammed: Department of Pathological Analysis, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Iraq.
Zubaidah Muhannad Abboud: Department of Pathological Analysis, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Iraq.
Khadija Abd Al-Abass: Department of Pathological Analysis, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Iraq.

How To Cite: Z.K. Lawi, R.A.Z. AL-Abedi, A.R. Hussain, S.R. Mohammed, Z.M. Abboud, and K.A. Al-Abass. In Vitro Assessment of the Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, and Hemolytic Activities of Hydroalcoholic Eruca sativa Leaf Extract from Najaf, Iraq. Current Research in Health Sciences, 4(2):70–76, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58613/crhs429