Antifungal, Antitumoral and Antioxidant Potential of the Danube Delta Nymphaea alba Extracts

Danube Delta Nymphaea alba (N. alba) extracts exhibit significant antifungal, antitumoral, and antioxidant properties, with potential therapeutic applications. The study found that both leaf and root methanolic extracts demonstrated strong antifungal activity against Candida glabrata, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1.717 µg/mL for leaves and 1.935 µg/mL for roots. Antitumoral effects were also promising, particularly against ovarian, prostate, and breast cancer cells, with IC50 values ranging from 23–274 µg/mL for leaves and 18–152 µg/mL for roots. Notably, combining N. alba extracts with cisplatin showed a synergistic effect in reducing tumor cell viability. Antioxidant assays revealed the presence of quercetin, a potent antioxidant compound, in high yields. The study also confirmed the non-toxicity of these extracts to wheat seed germination, suggesting their safety for further biological applications.

Cudalbeanu, M., Furdui, B., Cârâc, G., Barbu, V., Iancu, A. V., Marques, F., Leitão, J. H., Sousa, S. A., & Dinica, R. M. (2019). Antifungal, Antitumoral and Antioxidant Potential of the Danube Delta Nymphaea alba Extracts. Antibiotics, 9(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9010007