In vitro Assessment of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Effects of Argemone mexicana and Prosopis cineraria Methanolic Extracts against Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Glioblastoma Cells

Objectives: The antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of Argemone mexicana and Prosopis cineraria were investigated against Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and glioblastoma (U87MG) cells. Materials and Methods: Methanolic extracts of the plants were tested for their antioxidant activity using the DPPH and FRAP assays with ascorbic acid as a positive control. The phenolic and flavonoid content of both the plant extracts were evaluated. The anti-proliferative activity of hepatocellular carcinoma and glioblastoma cell lines were estimated by treating the cells with plant extracts by MTT assay. Results: Ascorbic acid showcased the lowest IC50 value at 32.61±4.10 μg/mL, followed by A. mexicana (84.02±2.46 μg/mL) and P. cineraria (212.65±4.77 μg/ mL). Additionally, the FRAP assay revealed the presence of ascorbic acid in both plant extracts, with concentrations of 29.17±0.30 μmol AAE/g in A.mexicana and 19.83±0.55 μmol AAE/g in P. cineraria. The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) in the stem of Argemone mexicana was determined to be 30.44±3.73 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram, while that in the leaves of Prosopis cineraria was measured at 6.67±0.69 mg of GAE/g. Similarly, the total flavonoid content (TFC) in the stem of A. mexicana was quantified at 16.67±1.19 mg of Quercetin Equivalents (QE) per gram, contrasting with the TFC in the leaves of P. cineraria, which registered at 2.17±0.59 mg of QE/g. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay, showing a significant decrease in cell viability in both cell lines. The IC50 concentrations were determined as 91.3±3.17 μg/mL and 78.43±4.16 μg/mL for A. mexicana and 261.43±35.16 μg/mL and 108.03±2.97 μg/mL for P. cineraria against HepG2 and U87MG cells, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest the capacity of both plants as source of antioxidant and carcinostatic agents against hepatocellular carcinoma and glioblastoma.