Exploring the Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties of Four Medicinal Plants from Veracruz, Mexico for Urinary and Prostate Health

Background: C. scaber, P. aequale, S. oleraceus and S. racemosa play a vital role in traditional medicine in Veracruz, Mexico, known for their effectiveness in treating a wide range of health issues. Particularly noteworthy is their significant use in traditional medicine in Mexico for addressing urinary and prostate-related ailments. Objectives: The current study assesses the antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties of these species on the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Materials and Methods: Methanolic and aqueous extracts of the selected plants’ parts were prepared and their chemical profiles were evaluated using ¹H-RMN. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH and FRAP methods. The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antiproliferative activity on PC-3 and HPrEC cells was evaluated by the MTT method. Results: S. racemosa showed the highest antioxidant activity (84.90% radical scavenging activity), attributed to the presence of flavonoids. However, the methanol extract of P. aequale had a better effect on the proliferation of PC-3 cells with an IC₅₀ of 251.6 µg/mL, additionally, it showed cytotoxicity at high concentrations (above 500 µg/mL). The antiproliferative and cytotoxic effect observed is not associated with antioxidant activity or the presence of alkaloids. However, cytotoxicity also occurred in control cells (HPrEC) with an IC₅₀ of 23.98 µg/mL. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of P. aequale showed the highest antiproliferative activity against PC-3 cell line, an effect not related to its antioxidant activity and attributed to the presence of aliphatic, aromatics and aldehydes compounds identified by ¹H-NMR in the extracts.