In Vitro Evaluation of the Anticancer and Pharmacological Activities of Eucomis comosa (Houtt.) H.R. Wehrh.

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The global fight against cancer persists despite advances in prevention and treatment. The current study investigated the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of <i>Eucomis comosa</i>, traditionally used in South Africa to treat elephantiasis and cancer-related conditions. <b>Methods:</b> Phytochemical screening, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses were conducted. Antioxidant activity was measured through DPPH and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assays. The anticancer activity was assessed using the MTT assay. <b>Results:</b> Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and phlobatannins. FTIR analysis of the aqueous extract displayed characteristic peaks at 3278.92 cm^-1 for O-H stretch, at 2930.67 cm^-1 for C-H stretch, at 1623.97 cm^-1 for C=O stretch, 1410.24 cm^-1 for C=C stretch and at 931.17 cm^-1 for =C-H, while LC-MS identified diverse metabolites, including polyphenols such as flavan-3-ols, flavone glycosides, and chalcones. Among the extracts, methanol showed the strongest DPPH scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 972.73 µg/mL), followed by ethanol (1296.36 µg/mL). For NO scavenging, methanol again outperformed ethanol, with IC₅₀ values of 1301 µg/mL and 2890 µg/mL, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that the ethanol extract completely inhibited cell growth at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/mL. Methanol, ethanol, and hexane extracts significantly suppressed cell proliferation in DU-145, PC-3, and SKU-T-1 cancer cell lines at higher concentrations, with IC₅₀ values ranging between 0.2 and 2.5 µg/mL. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings indicate that the phytochemicals and functional groups present in <i>E. comosa</i> extracts contribute to their dose-dependent antioxidant and anticancer activities, supporting their ethnomedicinal use.