Chatcha Sriwanwit^{* *}Correspondence: Chatcha Sriwanwit, Department of Medicine, St. Andrews International School, Bangkok, Thailand, Email:

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About the Study

Background

Cancer is a global health concern, with lung cancer being one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths (Bade BC and Cruz CS, 2020). Conventional cancer treatments often exhibit limitations, emphasizing the need to explore alternative therapies (Verhoef MJ and White MA, 2002). Natural products derived from medicinal plants have gained significant attention due to their potential anticancer properties (Buyel JF, 2018). P. nigrum is a plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine, and previous studies have suggested its potential anticancer effects (Zheng J, et al., 2016).

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of nigrumagainst A549 lung cancer cells and determine its total phenolic content.

• To evaluate the cytotoxic effects of nigrum extract on A549 lung cancer cells.

• To quantify the total phenolic content of nigrumextract

Plant material and extract preparation Fresh nigrumplant material was obtained and authenticated. The plant material was thoroughly washed, dried, and grounded into a fine powder. The powder was then subjected to extraction using a suitable solvent (e.g., ethanol, methanol) following a standardized method. The resulting extract was concentrated, dried, and stored for further analysis. Cell culture and treatment A549 lung cancer cells were obtained from a reputable cell bank and cultured in appropriate media supplemented with fetal bovine serum and antibiotics. The cells were maintained under standard culture conditions. For the treatment, different concentrations of nigrumextract was prepared and added to the cells. Control cells were treated with the vehicle only. Cytotoxicity assays MTT assay: The cytotoxic effects of nigrumextract on A549 cells were determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cells were seeded in 96-well plates and treated with various concentrations of nigrumextract. After the incubation period, MTT reagent was added, and the formazan crystals were solubilized. The absorbance was measured at a specific wavelength using a microplate reader, and cell viability was calculated. Trypan blue exclusion assay: The trypan blue exclusion assay was performed to assess cell viability and cytotoxicity. A549 cells were treated with nigrumextract, and after the incubation period, cells were stained with trypan blue. The viable and non-viable cells were counted using a hemocytometer. Total phenolic content determination: The total phenolic content of nigrumextract was determined using a spectrophotometric method. A suitable phenolic standard curve was prepared using a known concentration of gallic acid. The extract was reacted with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and after incubation, the absorbance was measured at a specific wavelength. The total phenolic content was calculated using the standard curve and expressed as milligrams of Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE) per gram of extract. Cytotoxicity assay: The MTT assay revealed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability upon treatment with nigrum extract. Significant inhibition of A549 cell growth was observed at higher concentrations of the extract. The trypan blue exclusion assay confirmed the cytotoxic effects of nigrum extract, with a decrease in viable cell count and an increase in non-viable cell count with increasing concentrations. Total phenolic content: The total phenolic content of nigrum extract was determined to be 1.12 ± 0.57 mg GAE/g extract. This indicated a high phenolic content, suggesting the presence of bioactive compounds responsible for its potential anticancer activity. The findings of this study demonstrated the significant anticancer activity of nigrumextract against A549 lung cancer cells. The cytotoxicity assays revealed dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, indicating the potential of nigrumas a natural therapeutic agent against lung cancer. The high phenolic content of the extract further supported its anticancer potential, as phenolic compounds are known for their antioxidant and anticancer properties (Gregoriou G, et al., 2021). However, further studies are warranted to identify and isolate the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed effects and to explore the underlying mechanisms of action.

Conclusion

This study provided evidence of the anticancer activity of nigrumextract against A549 lung cancer cells. The extract exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, indicating its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for lung cancer treatment. The high total phenolic content of the extract suggests the presence of bioactive compounds that contribute to its anticancer properties. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanisms of action and identify the specific compounds responsible for these effects. Nonetheless, the findings of this study support the potential use of nigrumas a natural source for developing novel anticancer agents.

References

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