Acacia nilotica Pod Extract has an Anti-cancer Effect on the U937 Cell Line

Background: Acacia nilotica (A. nilotica), a tree that thrives in tropical regions, has been reported to have various medicinal uses and various pharmacological properties. Potential anti-cancer effects are one of the medical properties of parts of this tree. Objectives: To explore and evaluate the cytotoxic effect of A. nilotica, we used Acacia nilotica’s pod extract on U937 cell lines as an acute myeloid leukemia model. Materials and Methods: Microscopic analysis, flow cytometry, and WST-1 tests were performed on the U937 cell line after 72 hr of treatment with different concentrations of ethanol pod extract from Acacia nilotica (A. nilotica) to test for DNA cell cycle, cell viability and apoptosis, and to determine the IC₅₀ of the drug. Results: Treatment with A. nilotica pod extract significantly induced cell death in U937-treated cells compared with untreated control cells. Microscopic analysis revealed morphological changes in dead and fragmented cells associated with a reduction in cell number. A reduction in cell viability with an increase of cells in the late apoptosis stage by flow cytometry indicated the cytotoxic effect of A. nilotica and accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase of the DNA cell cycle analysis. The IC₅₀ was identified by the WST-1 assay. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that A. nilotica may be employed as a natural anti-cancer agent in research on acute myeloid leukemia in humans.