# In vitro bioactivity and phytochemical characterization of a polyherbal extract with antioxidant and anticancer properties

## TL;DR

This study investigates a herbal extract's antioxidant and anticancer properties, showing promising results in laboratory tests.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel polyherbal extract with high antioxidant and anticancer potential, supported by detailed phytochemical and bioactivity analysis.

## Key findings

- The extract showed strong antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 359.93 µg/mL (DPPH) and 292.93 µg/mL (ABTS).
- It exhibited cytotoxic effects against Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells with an IC50 of 103.40 µg/mL.
- Phytochemical analysis revealed high levels of phenolics and tannins, suggesting significant bioactive potential.

## Abstract

Herbal extracts are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential due to their rich phytochemical composition and associated bioactivities. This study evaluates the antioxidant and anticancer properties of a compound extract derived from Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and Black Seed (Nigella sativa), Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed high total phenolic (89.35 ± 0.36 mg GAE/g) and tannin content (88.60 ± 0.51 mg GAE/g), along with moderate flavonoid (28.67 ± 0.09 mg QE/g) and flavonol (10.52 ± 0.51 mg QE/g) levels, indicative of robust antioxidant potential. The extract demonstrated notable free-radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 359.93 ± 9.91 µg/mL and 292.93 ± 4.24 µg/mL in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays, respectively. Cytotoxicity evaluation against Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells showed an IC50 value of 103.40 ± 4.51 µg/mL, supporting its anticancer potential. UV–Vis spectral analysis identified a prominent peak at 323.14 nm, suggesting the presence of phenolic and aromatic compounds, while zeta potential analysis (−22.1 ± 6.92 mV) indicated moderate dispersion stability. These results provide preliminary evidence supporting the extract’s potential as a multifunctional bioactive formulation and offer a foundation for future mechanistic and in vivo investigations.