Researchers at the Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr Josif Pančić” in Serbia have conducted a comprehensive chemical and pharmacological evaluation of seed extracts from two Camelina sativa genotypes, “NS Slatka” (CSS) and “NS Zlatka” (CSZ). Published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, the study provides the first integrated assessment of these specific Serbian genotypes, combining fractionated phytochemical profiling with comparative analyses of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities. The work aims to determine whether these oilseed plants, which have regained agronomic significance in recent decades, possess bioactive compounds suitable for functional food applications or therapeutic development.
The study utilized seeds harvested from experimental fields in Pančevo, Serbia, under semi-arid conditions. The seeds were processed using two distinct extraction methods to isolate different classes of phenolic compounds. A classical solid-liquid extraction with methanol produced crude extracts, while a more complex fractionated extraction method separated the phenolics into free phenolic compounds (FPC), soluble conjugated phenolic compounds (SC), and bound phenolic compounds (BPC). This fractionated approach involved alkaline hydrolysis, acidification, and ether extraction, allowing for a detailed chemical characterization of the compounds present in each specific fraction.
Chemical analysis via reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) revealed that phenolic acids were the dominant chemical class in both genotypes. In the crude extracts, phenolic acids accounted for between 45% and 52% of the total identified phenolics, while in the fractionated extracts, this proportion rose to between 52% and 94%. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives predominated among the phenolic acids, representing 90% to 93% of the combined phenolic-acid content in the crude extracts. Sinapic acid was the most abundant individual phenolic acid, accounting for approximately 83.34% of the combined phenolic-acid content across both genotypes, followed by salicylic acid, ferulic acid, and rosmarinic acid.
Flavonoids, including glycosides and aglycones, constituted the second major group, making up between 47.5% and 54.6% of total identified phenolics in the crude extracts. Within this group, flavonols and flavan-3-ols were the dominant subclasses. Rutin was the most abundant flavonoid in the crude extracts, representing 64% to 65% of total flavonoids, followed by catechin, which accounted for approximately 32% to 33.5%. The study noted that bound phenolic compounds (BPC) were more predominant than free or soluble conjugated forms, consistent with literature suggesting that phenolics in plant tissues predominantly occur in bound forms. Notably, the CSZ genotype contained approximately 50 times more rosmarinic acid than the CSS genotype, highlighting significant genotype-specific chemical variations.
Antioxidant activity was assessed using two different assays: CUPRAC, which measures single-electron transfer, and DPPH, which evaluates combined electron and hydrogen atom transfer. The results showed a distinct divergence between the two genotypes depending on the assay used. In the CUPRAC assay, the CSS extract exhibited antioxidant activity approximately five to six times higher than that of CSZ, indicating a stronger reducing power under single-electron transfer conditions. Conversely, the DPPH assay revealed an opposite trend, with the CSZ extract showing approximately 19% higher activity than CSS, suggesting a superior capacity to neutralize DPPH radicals. These findings indicate that the antioxidant potential of camelina extracts is assay-dependent and influenced by the specific structural properties of the phenolic constituents.
The antibacterial activity of the crude extracts was evaluated against five foodborne bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, and Shigella flexneri. Using a broth microdilution assay, the researchers determined the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). Both genotypes demonstrated broad-spectrum inhibitory potential, with MICs ranging from 3.42 to 30 mg/mL. The strains exhibited varying levels of susceptibility, with Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella flexneri showing the highest sensitivity to the extracts. In contrast, Salmonella enteritidis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus displayed lower inhibitory activity. The bactericidal concentrations ranged from 12.18 to 97.44 mg/mL for CSS and 25 to 100 mg/mL for CSZ, indicating that while the extracts can inhibit bacterial growth, higher concentrations are required to achieve bactericidal effects.
Cytotoxic activity was assessed on the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29. The extracts exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferative effects, with higher concentrations significantly reducing cell viability. At concentrations of 12.5 mg/mL and above, both genotypes caused a marked decrease in cell survival. The CSS extract generally exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect than CSZ at the same concentrations. The IC50 values, representing the concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell growth, were similar for both genotypes, with CSS at 76.75 mg/mL and CSZ at 77.37 mg/mL. At concentrations of 50 to 100 mg/mL, cell viability dropped below 50% of the control, indicating pronounced antiproliferative activity against the colorectal cancer cells.
To explore potential molecular mechanisms, the researchers performed molecular docking simulations using AutoDock Vina. Nine phenolic compounds, including rutin, catechin, and various phenolic acids, were docked against eight protein targets associated with colorectal cancer, such as CDK2, c-Met, PI3Kα, and p53. The docking protocol was validated by redocking co-crystallized ligands, yielding RMSD values between 0.14 and 2.02 Å, which supported the reliability of the setup. The results showed that rutin had the highest predicted binding affinities across the kinase targets, with docking scores ranging from -8.2 to -9.2 kcal/mol. In the CDK2 binding site, rutin displayed a hinge-type interaction pattern, while in c-Met, it retained key contacts with residues Asp1222 and Tyr1230.
The inclusion of the p53 Y220C mutant in the docking analysis was exploratory and not intended to explain the antiproliferative response of HT-29 cells, which harbor a different TP53 variant (R273H). The docking results for p53 Y220C indicated that rutin is geometrically capable of occupying the mutation-induced cavity, but this does not imply interaction with p53 in the HT-29 cells or establish stabilization of the mutant. The authors emphasized that these computational predictions are hypothesis-generating and require experimental validation to confirm direct target engagement or mechanism of action.
The study highlights several limitations that must be considered when interpreting the results. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated in only a single colorectal cancer cell line, and the effects were not assessed in normal, non-malignant colon cells. Consequently, the selectivity of the extracts toward cancer cells remains to be established. Additionally, the contribution of individual phytoconstituents to the observed biological effects was not experimentally determined. The authors noted that future investigations should focus on assessing cytotoxicity in normal colon cell models to better define biological effects and evaluate underlying molecular mechanisms.
Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that Camelina sativa seeds are a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds with promising pharmacological properties. The extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities, supporting their potential as functional ingredients for managing infective gastrointestinal disorders or as candidates for further therapeutic development. The distinct chemical profiles of the CSS and CSZ genotypes indicate that genotype selection may be crucial for optimizing the bioactive content of camelina extracts.
The research contributes to the growing body of evidence regarding the health-promoting potential of camelina, a plant that has been cultivated in Southeastern Europe since the late Neolithic period but was largely neglected until recently. By providing a detailed comparative chemical profile and pharmacological evaluation, the study offers valuable insights for agricultural geneticists and food scientists. The identification of specific compounds like sinapic acid and rutin, along with their potential interactions with cancer-related proteins, paves the way for further research into the development of plant-based functional foods and therapeutic agents.
Further steps toward the application of camelina extracts as functional food products will require food-grade extraction methods, residual-solvent control, toxicological evaluation, and stability studies. The integration of phytochemical profiling with pharmacological assays and computational modeling represents a robust approach to evaluating the potential of underutilized crops. As the demand for natural bioactive compounds increases, camelina may emerge as a significant source of phenolics with diverse biological activities, warranting continued scientific attention and agronomic development.
Subject of Research: Chemical and pharmacological evaluation of Camelina sativa seed extracts
Article Title: Systematic chemical and pharmacological evaluation of seed extracts from two Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz genotypes and estimation methods
Article References: Batinić, P., Čutović, N., Prijić, Ž., Marković, T., Tadić, V., Jeromela, A. M., Cvijetić, I., Radovanović, M., Marinković, J., Tričković, J. F., & Krstić, A. (2026). Systematic chemical and pharmacological evaluation of seed extracts from two Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz genotypes and estimation methods. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 32, Article 103416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103416
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103416
Keywords: Camelina sativa, Phenolic compounds, Antioxidant activity, Antibacterial activity, Antiproliferative effects, Molecular docking, Colorectal cancer, Functional foods, Plant extracts, Serbian agriculture, Systematic, chemical
News Source: Alan Morgan. (November 8, 2026). Camelina Seed Extracts Show Antimicrobial and Anticancer Potential. Scienmag.
