Correlation between cytotoxicity in cancer cells and free radical‑scavenging activity: In�vitro evaluation of 57 medicinal and edible plant extracts

Abstract

Cancer is a complex interaction among multiple signaling pathways involving a variety of target molecules. Cancer causes morbidity and mortality in millions of people worldwide, and due to its prevalence, the discovery of novel anticancer drugs is urgently required. Nature is considered an important source of the discovery of anticancer treatments, and many of the cytotoxic medicines in clinics today are derived from plants and other natural sources. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce a variety of human cancers, and antioxidants or scavengers are used to counteract them. The current study reports on the screening of extracts from 57 plants that are used in the galilee district as a food and/or for traditional medicine. Investigating the free radical scavenging capacity and these plants, and their cytotoxicity, may prove helpful to high-throughput screening projects that use antioxidants and cytotoxic natural products. The current study assessed the correlation between free radical scavenging and cytotoxicity. Correlational analysis is important for increasing the efficiency of the screening process. In the present study, free radical scavenging was assessed using a DPPH assay, while cytotoxicity was measured using a XTT assay. A total of 9 extracts were indicated to exhibit EC50 values <250 µg/ml, and 4 others exhibited a high antioxidant content, with EC50 values, for free radical scavenging, of <0.5 µg/ml. An in-depth analysis of the results revealed that the extracts of plants that exhibit an EC50 of free radical scavenging ≤10 µg/ml show a degree of enrichment toward increased cytotoxicity. It is recommended that future studies test the validity of the conclusions of the current study on other cancer cell-lines, and isolate and identify the bioactive agents that are found in the most cytotoxic extracts of plants.

Terminalia bentzoë, a Mascarene Endemic Plant, Inhibits Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Growth In Vitro via G0/G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest

“…Given the ubiquitous involvement of oxidative damage in carcinogenesis, antioxidant-rich secondary metabolites, notably polyphenolics, have attracted much interest in the search of novel and alternative treatment modalities for cancer [ 34 , 35 ]. In this vein, in vitro antioxidant activities often correlated strongly with growth inhibitory activity against cancer cell lines [ 36 , 37 ]. However, it is crucial to note that both ROS and antioxidants have a “Janus-faced” effect in cancer management, as their effects differ in the early events of cancer initiation from those seen in the survival and propagation of established tumors [ 34 , 38 ].…”

Biologically Active Compounds of Plants: Structure-Related Antioxidant, Microbiological and Cytotoxic Activity of Selected Carboxylic Acids

“…For many years, natural compounds of plant origin were the main source of oncological drugs, which over time underwent the necessary structural modifications to enhance their activity, bioavailability, and specificity [ 161 , 162 ]. Although experimental studies in cell or animal models have shown a positive relationship between the presence of phenolic compounds of natural origin and inhibiting the development of cancer cells, it is very difficult to extrapolate the results of these studies to cancer prevention or therapy in humans.…”

Correlation between Antibacterial Activity and Free-Radical Scavenging: In-Vitro Evaluation of Polar/Non-Polar Extracts from 25 Plants

“…Thus, plants can serve as an excellent source of natural antioxidants and can offer therapeutic benefits for the treatment of oxidative stress through combinations of the wide range of active compounds found in them [27]. Natural products have been optimized to act on biological targets through a long natural selection process [28].…”