MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR EVALUATION OF ANTICANCER ACTIVITIES OF SELECTED INDIAN HERBAL EXTRACTS: FOCUS ON CURCUMA LONGA, WITHANIA SOMNIFERA, AND OCIMUM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v13.i12.2025.6608Keywords:
Phytochemical Synergy, Intrinsic Apoptosis, Withaferin A, Cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$), Ethno-oncology etcAbstract [English]
This research evaluates the molecular anticancer effectiveness of three significant Indian herbal extracts—Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, & Ocimum sanctum—against human breast (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Using a bioassay-guided approach, the ethanolic extracts were prepared through Soxhlet extraction and analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals. The cytotoxicity experiments revealed a strong growth suppression that was both dose and time dependent, with W. somnifera being the most active plant at MCF-7 cells ($IC_{50} = 24.8 \mu g/mL$). Subsequent molecular studies using Western blotting and RT-qPCR confirmed the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway showing a remarkable increase in the $Bax/Bcl-2$ ratio and the onset of $Caspase-3$ activity. Furthermore, flow cytometry presented evidenced of specific cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. The results demonstrate the effective induction of apoptosis by the synergistic interaction among the secondary metabolites in the extracts, thus providing a scientific basis for their traditional use and potential introduction into modern cancer care.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Kaina Bhonsle, Dr. Haish Vyas, Dr. Riddhi Pradhan, Dr. Alka Vyas
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