Anticancer Potential of Tephrosia maxima: Inhibition of Cell Viability and Colony Forming Ability in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

Introduction

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) continues to be a significant global health challenge, especially in developing areas, where lifestyle associated risk factors increase its prevalence. Even with improvements in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemoradiation, toxicities related to treatment and resistance still undermine clinical outcomes, driving the quest for safer, plant-derived supplements. The Tephrosia genus, characterised by a rich content of rotenoids, flavonoids, and isoflavones, has demonstrated promising anticancer capabilities in various models, yet Tephrosia maxima remains largely unexplored.

Materials and Methods

The present study investigated the anticancer potential of T. maxima through molecular docking analysis followed by in vitro evaluation in oral cancer cells. Three primary phytoconstituents, specifically tephrosin, deguelin, and lupeol, were docked to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), which is a crucial oncogenic factor in OSCC. Based on these in silico findings, the biological activity of T. maxima extract was further evaluated using KB oral squamous carcinoma cells through cell viability and clonogenic assays.

Results

Molecular docking revealed that deguelin exhibited the highest affinity (-7.90 kcal/mol), followed by tephrosin (-7.20 kcal/mol) and lupeol (-6.40 kcal/mol), with docking configurations showing stabilizing hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions in the ATP-binding pocket. In vitro tests indicated a dose-related decrease in cell viability, with an IC₅₀ of roughly 96 µg/mL after 24 hr. Clonogenic assays also showed significant reduction in colony forming ability post-treatment, suggesting a decrease in long-term proliferative potential.

Conclusion

These findings collectively emphasize T. maxima as a valuable source of bioactive phytochemicals that can induce cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects on OSCC, likely via interactions targeting EGFR. Although these findings correspond with recognized anticancer properties of similar Tephrosia species, this research provides the preliminary evidence of such effects in T. maxima. Further in vivo and clinical investigations are necessary to confirm these findings and assess its potential for translation into oral cancer treatments.