Investigating antioxidant and anticancer properties of Achyranthes aspera leaf extracts against B16F10 melanoma cells: In-vitro and in-silico study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47552/ijam.v17i3.7033Keywords:
Achyranthes aspera, B16F10 cell line, Antioxidant, Anticancer, in-silico, TYRP1Abstract
Background: Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer with considerable metastatic potential, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Natural products, particularly plant-derived extracts, represent promising sources for anticancer drug discovery owing to their diverse phytochemical constituents. This study evaluated the antioxidant and anticancer potential of Achyranthes aspera leaf extracts against B16F10 melanoma cells. Methods: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. aspera leaves were subjected to phytochemical screening. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, nitric oxide scavenging, and FRAP assays. Cytotoxicity against B16F10 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay, while apoptosis was confirmed by DAPI staining. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the binding affinity of major phytoconstituents toward tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), a potential melanoma-associated target. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. The aqueous extract exhibited higher TPC (102.56 mg GAE/g) and TFC (140.87 mg QE/g) and consequently showed superior antioxidant activity across all assays. It also demonstrated significant, concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against B16F10 cells, with a lower IC₅₀ value (40.65 µg/mL) than the ethanolic extract (75.21 µg/mL). DAPI staining showed nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation, confirming apoptosis. Molecular docking identified spathulenol and squalene as prominent compounds, exhibiting binding affinities of −7.9 and −7.6 kcal/mol, respectively, toward TYRP1. Conclusions: A. aspera leaf extracts, particularly the aqueous extract, exhibit promising antioxidant and anticancer activity, potentially mediated through apoptosis. Spathulenol and squalene may contribute to TYRP1 inhibition. Further in-vivo studies are warranted.
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