Abstract

Alhagi maurorum Medik (Fabaceae) is the single species of genus Alhagi found in Iraq, locally known as Aqual. Various studies have shown A. maurorum used in folk medicines. However, its potential health benefits have not been studied in details. Methanol extracts ofA. maurorum from the aerial part were screened for total phenolic and flavonoids contents, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. The total phenolic and total flavonoids contents were assessed by Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum nitrate methods, respectively. Antioxidant properties were measured by diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), linoleic acid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase. Antimicrobial activity against six microorganisms was tested using disc diffusion method and cytoxicity test was carried out using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) on the human leukemia cell line (HL-60). The antioxidant properties and total phenolic contents of the leaves were higher than those of the flowers.  Antimicrobial activities were characterized by inhibition zones and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) ranged between 58.0-80.7 and 60.4-84.0 µg mL^-1, respectively. Leaves and flowers extract induced inhibitory effect against the proliferation of HL-60 cells and IC₅₀ was 16.0 and 22.0 µg mL^-1, respectively. The antimicrobial and cytotoxicity of extracts seemed to be positively correlated with their antioxidant potentials.The present findings indicated that leaves and flowers extracts are highly cytotoxic to HL-60 cells, and leaves extract was more potent in this regard. The present study suggests that A. maurorum may be used as possible natural antioxidant, antimicrobial, and an effective therapeutic agent in the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Key words: Alhagi maurorum, phenolic content, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic