Unveiling the Phytochemical Profile and Anti‐Cancer Potential of <scp> <i>Lantana camara</i> </scp> Leaf and Root Extracts Against <scp>MCF</scp> ‐7, <scp>HepG2</scp> , and <scp>A549</scp> Cancer Cell Lines

Cancer is a life-threatening disease; liver cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer account for high prevalence worldwide. The <i>Lantana camara</i> (LC) plant is known for its cytotoxicity in treating certain diseases. However, the effect of leaf and root extract of LC on induction of apoptosis and lowering the proliferation of cancerous cells was estimated in the current study. Leaf and root extracts of LC were prepared using the rotary method, in which mineral analysis was done quantitatively through the spectrophotometry technique. In contrast, phytochemical composition was assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Fifteen bioactive compounds were detected from the LC root extract. The major compounds found were lupeol (52.94%), Lup-20(29)-en-3-one (8.231%), 9-octadecynoic acid (21%), N-hexadecenoic acid (16%), Phytol (5.842%), Hexadecenoic acid (5.301%), Caryophyllene oxide (4.772%) and 2,3-Dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (3.018%). Cytotoxicity was estimated through the MTT assay by using two different sourced cell lines as control (HUVECs and Vero). VEGF was done to confirm the proliferation of treated cells; apoptosis was examined by Annexin-V and Hoechst 33342 staining; cell viability was checked through the trypan blue and crystal violet staining method. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activities showed better results in the LCroot extract than the LCleaf extract. Similarly, DPPH measured for antioxidant analysis also confirmed the better results in LCroot (178.921 ± 0.12) (<i>p</i> < 0.01). In cell culture experiments, LCroot extract showed high cytotoxicity and morphological changes in MCF-7, HepG2, and A549 cancerous cell lines, but a reduced cytotoxic effect was observed in non-cancerous cell lines (HUVECs and Vero). ELISA for apoptosis and angiogenesis confirmed the significantly increased apoptosis (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) (Annexin-V) and reduced angiogenesis/proliferation (VEGF). Further, the Hoechst 33342 staining method also confirmed the increased apoptosis in treated cancerous cells with 50 μg/mL LCroot extract as compared to untreated groups and normal HUVECs.