Melastoma malabathricum and Muntingia Calabura against Colon Cancer Cell Line and DMH-Induced Rat Model: In Vitro and In Vivo Perspective

Melastoma malabathricum (MM) and Muntingia calabura (MC) are traditionally used medicinal plants. The present study examined the anti-colon cancer effects of a water-based extract derived from the combined leaves of both plants (MM-MC). Cell lethality was tested in HCT116 human colon cancer cells, where MM-MC induced cell shrinkage. The impact of the combined extract on apoptosis induction, cell cycle regulation, and oxidative stress was analyzed in HCT116 cells. The extract amplified the expression of Bax and caspase-3, while repressing Bcl-2 and Cyclin B1. Additionally, MM-MC suppressed the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GSH-Px, SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), while it increased MDA and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in HCT116 cells. In the 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-exposed rats, oral administration of MM-MC at 250 and 500 mg/kg markedly inhibited aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation, achieving 71.42% and 85.68% inhibition, respectively. The extract also restored normal colonic architecture and decreased the proportion of PCNA-positive nuclei in the distal colon to 11% and 7% in the 250 and 500 mg/kg treatment groups, as opposed to 16% observed in the untreated DMH-induced control group. These findings demonstrate the anti-colorectal cancer potential of the MM-MC extract, highlighting its potential use as a treatment for colon cancer.