Active phytoconstituents from <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> and <i>Pterocarpus marsupium</i> and their role in antioxidant defense and cytotoxicity against liver (HepG2) and brain (U87MG) cancer cell lines

Phytochemicals derived from plants offer promising therapeutic potential due to their diverse chemical structures and biological activities. These include alkaloids, terpenes, phenolics and several other natural compounds, which can exhibit synergistic properties in cancer treatment when combined with cancer drugs. Thus, the antioxidant potential and anticancer properties of extracts from two plants, Balanites aegyptiaca and Pterocarpus marsupium were evaluated in vitro in this study against hepatic (HepG2) and brain (U87MG) cell lines to combat cytotoxicity to potential management of disease. The bioactive components responsible for the therapeutic effects were analysed through GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) analysis. The qualitative and quantitative estimation was done on the methanolic plant extracts, followed by an evaluation of their antioxidant potential using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhdrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays. The cytotoxicity was determined by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay against cancer cell lines. The extracts of both plants showed potent antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 52.78±0.50 µg/ml and 63.19±0.51 µg/ml, respectively, for DPPH assay. The cytotoxicity assay revealed the IC50 values as 44.70±0.58 µg/ml against HepG2 cells and, 40.1±0.70 µg/ml against U87MG cells for B. aegyptiaca and 59.83±0.47 µg/ml against HepG2 cells and 50.13±3.42 µg/ml against U87MG cells for P. marsupium. The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of phytochemicals such as 4-O-Methylmannose, Hexadecanoic acid, 4H-Pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, 3,3'-Dimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxystilbene, cis-Vaccenic acid, 4-(2-Methoxyethyl)phenol, 7-Hydroxyflavanone, etc. The study underscores the significance of examining plant-derived compounds in the context of developing innovative anticancer therapies while highlighting the necessity for in-depth investigations into the phytochemical profiles of these species.