In vitro Assessment of the Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Cissus quadrangularis Using HeLa Cells

Aim: Cervical cancer is a significant global health concern, and usually treated by Cisplatin in combination with radiation therapy, often associated with side effects. Cissus quadrangularis has antioxidant and immune-boosting effects. In view of its therapeutic potential in treating cervical carcinoma, we evaluated the antioxidant and anticancer activities of acetone and methanolic extracts of Cissus quadrangularis. Materials and Methods: The phytochemical profiling of the plant extract was done by GC-MS, antioxidant activity was assessed by FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays, and MTT assay was used to study the cytotoxicity of plant extract in HeLa cells. Results: Phytochemical profile comprised pentadecanoic acid, 9,12,15 octadecatrienoic acid, 9,12 octadecanoic acid, methyl stearate, α-amyrin, α-methyl sorboside, β-amyrin, methyl tetradeconate, heptadecanoic acid, stigamasta, diglycerol, which are testified to have antioxidant and anticancer activities. The FRAP, DPPH and ABTS assays demonstrated a strong antioxidant activity in acetone and methanol as the concentration of the extract increased. In the anticancer assays, both acetone and methanol extracts exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on the HeLa cell lines, with notable inhibition of cell proliferation. In acetone extract, cell viability was 96.21 % in 0.10 mg/mL and 44.67% in 1.60 mg/mL, whereas in methanol extract, cell viability was 89.32% in 0.10 mg/mL and 32.12% in 1.60 mg/mL. The IC50 values of acetone and methanolic extracts were 1.33 and 0.97 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The results advocate a prospective role of C. quadrangularis in cervical carcinoma therapy.