Background and Aim: Quercetin is a plant flavonoid, which possesses several biological and pharmaceutical capacities. Its biological activities include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects. Flavonoid compounds like quercetin have shown therapeutic benefits against a number of cancer types, including liver, colorectal, and breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal capacities of thiourea derivative of quercetin.
Methods: The biological activities of thiourea derivative of quercetin were studied against bacteria, fungi, and liver cancer cells. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using agar well diffusion method. Its anticancer activity against liver cancer cells was evaluated using MTT method.
Results: The quercetin thiourea derivative showed antibacterial activity against several types of bacteria such as Basillus cereus, Bulchorderia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. This compound showed also antifungal activity against several Candida spp. The MICs for Bacillus cereus, Bulchorderia, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus feacalis were obtained at 1, 15, 10, and 0.8 mg/ml, respectively. The MICs for Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis were 5 mg/ml, but it was 1 and 30 mg/ml for Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, respectively. This compound exhibited anticancer activity against liver cancer cells.
Conclusion: The quercetin thiourea derivative highlights the development of a biologically active compound. The compound showed favorable antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. This quercetin derivative effect on the growth of liver carcinoma cells was assumed to be by inducing apoptosis.