Phytochemical analysis of Peganum harmala and Camellia sinensis seed extracts and evaluation of their cytotoxic effects on A431 (skin) cancer cell line

Abstract

Background: Cancer constitutes a significant public health crisis for humanity. Conventional cancer therapies often encompass chemotherapy or a mix of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the harmful effects of synthetic drugs led to the search for new treatment options that are more compatible with the body. Bioactive chemicals derived from natural resources have transformed the field of medicinal chemistry. Consequently, these natural therapeutic substances have become crucial for the formulation of multifaceted treatment regimens in cancer therapy.

Objectives: The aims of extract, characterize, and evaluate the cytotoxic effects of Peganum harmala and Camellia sinensis seed extracts on both normal and cancer cell lines.

 Methods: Quantitative analysis was employed to identify the phenolic components in Peganum harmala and Camellia sinensis seed extract via high-performance liquid chromatography. The cytotoxicity assay was conducted using the skin cancer cell line (A431) and the normal cell line (HEK293), all cultured in 96-well microtiter plates. was exposed to various dilution doses (100-3.12 μg/ml) of Peganum harmala and Camellia sinensis seed extract. The crystal violet assay was employed to evaluate cell viability.

Results: HPLC analysis indicated the presence of several anticancer compounds. Cytotoxicity results (P ≤ 0.005) show that Peganum harmala extract greatly reduced the survival of A431 skin cancer cells at all tested amounts, while Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract only reduced survival in A431 skin cancer cells at higher amounts (100, 50, and 25 µg/ml). For the normal HEK293 cell line, Peganum harmala extract significantly reduced cell survival at lower amounts (3.125, 6.25, and 12.5 µg/ml), while Camellia sinensis extract only affected the cells at higher amounts.

Conclusion: The seed extracts of both plants had cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines, with P. harmala demonstrating greater potency but also increased toxicity to normal cells. These findings indicate their potential as natural anticancer agents. In addition, in vivo studies are required to validate efficacy and evaluate safety.