Evaluation of Zamia floridana A. DC. Leaves and Its Isolated Secondary Metabolites as Natural Anti-Toxoplasma and Anti-Cancer Agents Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Toxoplasmosis and cancer are life-threatening diseases with worldwide distribution. However, currently used chemosynthetic treatments are not devoid of their own intrinsic problems. Natural metabolites are gaining attention due to their lower side effects. In this study, we investigated for the first time Zamia floridana leaves extract and its different fractions for their toxoplasmocidal activity, using Virulent RH Toxoplasma gondii, and cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and HCT-116 cancer cell lines using MTT assay. The n-butanol fraction was the most potent fraction against T. gondii with an EC50 of 7.16 +/- 0.4 mu g/mL compared to cotrimoxazole (4.18 +/- 0.3 mu g/mL). In addition, the n-BuOH fraction showed a significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HCT-116 with IC50 of 12.33 +/- 1.1 and 17.88 +/- 1.4 mu g/mL, respectively, compared to doxorubicin (4.17 +/- 0.2 and 5.23 +/- 0.3 mu g/mL, respectively), with higher safety index against normal cell line (WISH). Therefore, the n-BuOH fraction was investigated for its phytochemicals using extensive chromatographic techniques, which led to the isolation of six compounds that were fully characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. Three biflavonoids (1, 2 and 4) in addition to two phenolic acid derivatives (3 and 5) and a flavonoid glycoside (6) were isolated. Compounds (1, 3, 5 and 6) were reported for the first time from Z. floridana. In silico docking studies for toxoplasmocidal and cytotoxic effects of these compounds revealed that compounds (1, 2, 4 and 6) have promising inhibition potential of either thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR) or cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) target proteins. This study is considered the first report of chemical and biological investigation of Z. floridana leaves.

Automated summary

This study investigated the biological activities of Zamia floridana leaves extract and its fractions, and found that the n-butanol fraction exhibited inhibitory activity against Toxoplasma gondii and cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and HCT-116 cancer cells. Six compounds, including three biflavonoids and two phenolic acid derivatives, were isolated from the n-butanol fraction.