Antioxidant, antimutagenic, tanning and calpain induction activities of methanolic extract of Tunisian plant (Moricandia arvensis)

: In this study, we investigate the potential of Moricandia arvensis methanol leaf extract (MeOHL) on calpain activity, melanin biosynthesis and DNA mutagenicity. Cytotoxic effect and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by lucigenin in colorectal cells (BE) were also determined. In addition, the chemical analysis of the extract was also studied and the chemical profile illustrates its content in para-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA), a glycosylated kampferol (GK), a glycosylated kampferol with Rhamnose (GKR) and 19 amino acids (AAs). Our results showed that MeOHL extract enhanced a significant cytotoxic (max of IP = 89.23%) and antioxidant (max of IP=100%) activities. Furthermore, the tested extract stimulated calpain activity and significantly increased the production of intra (46 µg/mL cells) and extracellular melanin content (12.5µg/mL). Using Ames assay, the extract exhibits a significant inhibition of mutagenicity induced by methy-methane-sulfonate (MMS) (76.32%) as well as 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA) (91%) in the Salmonella thyphimurium TA104 assay system.