Comparative study of phytochemical composition, oral toxicity, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of both Aloe vera and Aloe vacillans (Asphodelaceae family) flowers extract: In vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies

The research study aimed to compare the chemical composition, acute toxicity, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of extracts from Aloe vera and Aloe vacillans flowers. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 79 components in the n-hexane fraction of A. vera flowers (AVeFHF). The toxicity study indicated no mortality or morbidity at the tested concentrations for any of the mice treated with the investigated extracts. A. vera flowers methanolic extract (AVeFME) exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activity. AVeFME demonstrated significant anticancer efficacy against HCT-116, Caco-2, A-549, and RD cell lines, with IC50 values of 14.0, 14.6, 12.0, and 14.7 µg/mL, respectively. AVeFHF exhibited moderate anticancer activity against HCT-116, A-549, and RD cell lines. Histological examination revealed substantial morphological changes consistent with the apoptotic mechanism of action. The molecular docking study provided insights into the binding modes of the identified compounds with EGFR and PARP-1 enzymes.