In Vitro Biological Activity Screening of Arbutus Unedo Leaves in Light of Their Traditional Use

The biological activity of A. unedo leaves, in relation to their traditional medicinal use in treating gastrointestinal and urinary tract diseases was verified. The ethanol extract of the leaves was quantitatively described in terms of flavonoids and phenolic acids (RP-HPLC), and zinc (voltametric analysis) and subjected to cytotoxic (MTT), antioxidant (TPC, TFC, TAA, RP, DPPH, and FRAP), antibacterial (disc diffusion), and antidiabetic assays (enzyme inhibition) in vitro. The extract was highly cytotoxic against prostate cancer cells, with less impact on colon carcinomas, while being nontoxic to normal prostate and kidney cells, and demonstrated antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.