In vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Acetone and Methanolic Extracts of Asparagus racemosus in Human Cervical Cancer Cell Lines (HeLa Cells)

Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women across the globe. Typically, it is treated by Cisplatin in combination with radiation therapy, which has side effects. We evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and anticancer potential of acetone and methanolic extracts of Asparagus racemosus in HeLa cells for exploring alternate therapy of cervical cancer.

Materials and Methods

Phytochemical analysis was done to identify key bioactive compounds, along with GC-MS profile in both acetone and methanolic extracts. In vitro evaluation of their antioxidant activity was done by FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and ABTS (2,2’-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 -sulfonic acid) assays. Cytotoxicity studies using HeLa cells were assessed by MTT assay.

Results and Discussion

The FRAP assay indicated that acetone extracts exhibited greater antioxidant potential (0.407 to 2.950 in 100 to 1600 μg/mL) compared to methanol extracts (0.363 to 1.867 in 100 to 1600 μg/mL). The DPPH scavenging activity ranged from 4.46% to 59% in acetone extracts, while in methanol extracts it showed only 22.7% at 6400 μg/mL. ABTS scavenging activity was high in acetone (14.30% to 87.9%) compared to methanol (5.52% to 87.40%). In MTT assay, a dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed against HeLa cells in both acetone and methanol extracts (IC₅₀ 771.44 μg/mL and 768.44 μg/mL), respectively. The cell survival in acetone ranged from 87.1% at 100 μg/mL to 18.9% at 1600 μg/mL, while in methanol it was 89.3% to 15.4% at the same concentrations. These findings suggest that phytochemicals of A. racemosus can be potentially exploited as complementary therapeutic agents in cervical cancer treatment and warrants further research.