Dipteracanthus prostratus Nees: a study of it’s anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastasis and immunomodulatory potential

• Significant therapeutic properties of Dipteracanthus prostratus were identified through systematic soxhlet extraction of its leaf, root, and stem components. The analysis detected glycosides, steroids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins in the plant extracts, indicating a rich phytochemical profile. • The water extracts of the leaf (IC 50 value 0.303 mg/mL) displayed strong anti-inflammatory effects. • The root water extract showed potent cytotoxic activity against SKBR breast cancer cells with an IC 50 of 7.11 µg/mL. • The immune-boosting properties of root water extracts on the HaCaT cell line, as well as their metastatic activity against breast cancer, underscoring the plant's potential for developing innovative anticancer treatments. Dipteracanthus prostratus (Poir.) Nees (DP) is a notable native medicinal plant belonging to the Acanthaceae family, flourishing in moist, shaded regions across India. The present study seeks to investigate the therapeutic potential of this plant. The research involved segmenting the plant into leaf, root, and stem components, followed by a systematic soxhlet extraction utilizing a series of solvents that ranged from nonpolar to polar specifically petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol, and water to uncover its medicinal properties. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of glycosides, steroids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins. Notably, the anti-inflammatory effects of the water extracts from the leaf (IC 50 : 0.303 mg/mL), stem, and root were found to be superior to those of the other extracts. The cytotoxic potential of the root water extract of DP against the SKBR cell line was significant, with an inhibitory concentration of 7.11 µg/mL observed. Moreover, AO/EB staining further corroborated the apoptotic effects of the petroleum ether extracts from the leaf, root, and stem, as well as the water extract from the root. Our findings indicated that root extracts serve as a potent immune booster for the HaCaT cell line. In addition to demonstrating cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell lines, we also observed metastasis activity in root extracts from both water and petroleum ether. This analysis suggests a promising application for DP in the development of innovative anticancer therapeutics in the future.