Evaluation of Anticancer Potential of Some Herbal Formulations

Abstract: India, sometimes referred to as the "Botanical Garden of the World," is the leading producer of medicinal plants worldwide. Medical plants provide basic materials for survival as well as natural treatments for a wide range of ailments. Two separate anticancer plant components, the fruit of Morinda citrifolia and the fruit of Opuntia elatior, were collected for the current investigation (bark and leaves of Simarouba glauca). The aforementioned plants' extracts were gathered. On the basis of DPPH and FRAP activity, the different approaches, such as bioactive compound analysis and antioxidant potential determination, were used. MTT analysis and Flow Cytometry Analysis were done to calculate anticancer activity. The study came to the conclusion that Opuntia elatior fruit extract mostly exhibits alkaloids, flavonoids, amino acids, and plant hormones among the various bioactive substances revealed by LC-MS/MS analysis. The Opuntia elatior fruit extract was subjected to a GC-MS/MS mass spectral analysis, which revealed a number of volatile bioactive compounds, including Neophytadiene, which has been reported to have anticancer and antioxidant potential, 9,12-Octadecadienoyl chloride, (Z, Z)-, Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester. The number of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle decreased and the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase increased in the cells treated with the Morinda citrifolia Leaf extract (MC1) as compared to the untreated reference. The plant alcohol extract of Opuntia elatior, Morinda citrifolia, and Simarouba glauca has potent anti-tumor activity, according to both the in vivo MTT assay and the flow cytometry research. Therefore, these plants have potent anti-cancer properties and can also stop cells in their tracks at specific cell cycle phases.

INTRODUCTION

Malnutrition, a shortage of food and medication, as well as an increase in industrialisation and environmental risks are all caused by the rising population pressure. Nutritional deficiencies and pesticide residues on fruits, vegetables, and food items cause the local populations to acquire cancerous consequences. The use of excessive amounts of non-prescription medications also contributes to the production of many carcinogenic metabolites. Changes in lifestyle, combined with drug and alcohol abuse, hormone therapy, and other factors, all contribute to the emergence of different malignancies. Radiation and chemotherapy are frequently used to eradicate the cancer-causing cells in order to treat these various types of cancers. The duration and dosage of these treatments cause a variety of side effects to emerge, which are then followed by a number of illnesses. So now is the perfect opportunity to research novel herbal combinations to test against various malignancies. Compared to radiation and chemotherapy, herbal formulations are safer, more environmentally friendly, and side effect free.

The vast majority of people worldwide rely on conventional medications. Due to the presence of different alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and polyphenols in medicinal herbs, the World Health Organization estimates that 80% of people living in rural areas rely on them as their major source of healthcare (Dhru et.al., 2016 and Loc and Kiet, 2011). More than 60% of bioactive compounds that fight cancer come from natural sources. In India, 3000 traditional users employ the 45,000 different types of medicinal plants. India is therefore the world's greatest producer of medicinal plants and is referred to as the "botanical garden of the world" (Medical Plants India, 2010). Due to a rising awareness of the negative consequences of both designer drugs and medications, significant advancements are being made in the fields of pharmaceutical drug production and medicines. Plants also play a significant role in modern society and traditional medical systems (Kayastha, 2014). Products made from plants have gained major importance, not just in underdeveloped countries but also in Western Europe and the United States. Plant products are anticipated to play a significant part in healthcare programmes across all countries in the globe for a very long time (Nyeem et.al., 2017). There is little doubt that a thorough examination of native medicinal plants and their therapeutic potential would uncover a wide range of additional efficient remedies and broaden the scope of India's ancient methods (Umadevi et.al., 2013).

According to Motais et.al., 2020 most cancer treatments that have a multitude of side effects are treated using surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immune, targeted hormone, and stem cell transplants. Both the percentage of deaths during recovery and those brought on by such therapy are rising daily. Thus, using a natural herbal composite product to treat patients is crucial. Thus, using a natural herbal composite product to treat patients is crucial. There has been a lot of interest in using conventional medicine to treat cancer. Therefore, scientific research into such composite herbal products is necessary to create natural cancer treatments.

The use of herbal medicine to treat people with harmful illnesses like cancer is universally acknowledged. Traditional Ayurvedic treatments have long included Triphala and other herbal concoctions as a healing tonic. In addition, it's possible that the number of active ingredients in the recipe, particularly tannins, are the primary causes reducing cell death via the production of free radicals in malignant cells. On the other hand, the three fruits of these plants are even rich in antioxidants that may effectively protect healthy cells from free radical damage (Wongnoppavich et.al., 2009).

About Opuntia elatior

Opuntia is a large genus of succulent plants native to the New World that are now widely grown in hotter climates due to their distinct personalities and alluring blossoms. Thorny pears were unintentionally brought into India and other eastern nations by early Western explorers who brought these crops to use as vegetables to prevent scurvy during their protracted voyages. They swiftly spread over neighbouring countries as well as India, becoming noxious weeds that dominated vast desert and developed areas (The Wealth of India, 2001).

Most of the 194 species that make up the Opuntia genus are found in dry and semi-arid regions. This shrub is native to many regions of the world, including the Mediterranean, Australia, Africa, and India. It is also native to the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as the northern section of South America. West India is where one may find Opuntia elatior Mill. (The Wealth of India, 2001). Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, as well as a few other sparsely populated dry and semiarid areas around the nation.

Shrubby or subarborescent Subulate, recurved, reddish-tipped leaves with variable-sized joints that are obovate or elliptic in shape, rather thin, undulate-free, and dull bluish green in colour. Areoles with rust-brown, discrete glochidia that are nearly obscured by fuzzy hairs. 5 cm wide, yellow or orange flowers. The perianth rotates, with the inner spathulate segments being acutely spathulate, and the outer segments being short, oval, and crimson in the middle. A tiny bit shorter stamens than the perianth. Stigmas are six, and the style is larger than the stamens. When mature, the pyriform, angular, or rather warty berry becomes reddish purple and is covered in tufts of glochidia (Kirtikar and Basu, 1999).

About Mornida citrifolia

Mornida L. belongs to the Rubaiceae family. Due to the fruit's resemblance to the Mulberry indica, the term Morinda, which is often referred to as the Indian Mulberry, is derived from the Latin word Morus, which means mulberry. In several nations, the genus Morinda is recognised by various local names.

It is abundantly produced in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in the coastal regions of Kerala, Karanataka, and Tamil Nadu under natural conditions. It is discovered to be cultivated beside roads and fences in the coastal region, demonstrating its broad resilience to harsh environments (Rethinam and Sivaraman, 2007). Cooke (1903) noted the presence of noni in the coasts of Vengurla, Marmagoa and Malvan, Latur, Osmanabad, Nanded, and draught-prone Marathwada area districts in his Flora of Bombay Presidency (Naik, 1998). In Akola, Bombay, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Pune, Ratnagiri, the sea coast of Mumbai, and Thane, Mornida citrifolia is often farmed and also grows as an escape (Singh et.al. 2000). In Kolhapur district Morinda discovered in Panhala woodland, Kerala and Tamdalge (Yadav and Sardesai, 2002).

Small evergreen shrub or tree, ovate, wide elliptic, or oblong leaves, three long nodes per leaf, A terminal or axillary inflorescence Bisexual and protoandrous. The flower head that matured into a fruit, the calyx is tubular, drastically reduced, and has few lobes. Corolla: Tube-shaped, actinomorphic, rather funnel-shaped. Stamens: Capitate, glabrous, and extended slightly beyond the corolla. Ovary: inferior, two or four locular, oblong, Fruit: globose syncarp that is densely clustered, initially green in colour, becoming white yellow when ripe; seed: vertical, ovoid to obovoid.