# 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.

## Key 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.