In Vitro Evaluation of the Anticancer and Pharmacological Activities of Eucomis comosa (Houtt.) H.R. Wehrh

TL;DR

This study explores the cancer-fighting and antioxidant properties of Eucomis comosa, a plant used in traditional South African medicine.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence of the plant's anticancer and antioxidant activities through in vitro assays.

Findings

Methanol extract of Eucomis comosa showed strong antioxidant activity with low IC50 values in DPPH and NO scavenging assays.

Ethanol extract inhibited cancer cell growth completely at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/mL.

Phytochemical screening identified compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols linked to the plant's bioactivity.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The global fight against cancer persists despite advances in prevention and treatment. The current study investigated the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of Eucomis comosa, traditionally used in South Africa to treat elephantiasis and cancer-related conditions. Methods: Phytochemical screening, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses were conducted. Antioxidant activity was measured through DPPH and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assays. The anticancer activity was assessed using the MTT assay. Results: Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and phlobatannins. FTIR analysis of the aqueous extract displayed characteristic peaks at 3278.92 cm−1 for O–H stretch, at 2930.67 cm−1 for C–H stretch, at 1623.97 cm−1 for C=O stretch, 1410.24 cm−1 for C=C stretch and at 931.17 cm−1 for =C–H, while LC-MS identified diverse metabolites, including polyphenols such as flavan-3-ols, flavone glycosides, and chalcones. Among the extracts, methanol showed the strongest DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 972.73 µg/mL), followed by ethanol (1296.36 µg/mL). For NO scavenging, methanol again outperformed ethanol, with IC50 values of 1301 µg/mL and 2890 µg/mL, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that the ethanol extract completely inhibited cell growth at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/mL. Methanol, ethanol, and hexane extracts significantly suppressed cell proliferation in DU-145, PC-3, and SKU-T-1 cancer cell lines at higher concentrations, with IC50 values ranging between 0.2 and 2.5 µg/mL. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the phytochemicals and functional groups present in E. comosa extracts contribute to their dose-dependent antioxidant and anticancer activities, supporting their ethnomedicinal use.

Figures