Azima tetracantha Leaf Methanol Extract Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation through Induction of Redox Imbalance and Cytochrome C Release

Azima tetracantha is a traditionally used medicinal plant in the Ayurvedic system and folk medicines. The plant has been used for various purposes including inflammatory ailments, arthritis, and various types of toxicities. There are no available reports on its anticancer activity; hence, the study aimed to evaluate its anti-proliferative potential in gastric cancer cells (AGS and KATO III). We observed a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation in both the gastric cancer cells; furthermore, a concomitant reduction in the cellular antioxidant status was observed. Pre-treatment with A. tetracantha methanol extract showed a significant reduction in intracellular glutathione levels, and subsequently raised thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Together with this, a significant increase in the cytochrome c release was noted in A. tetracantha treated cells, alongwith an increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic genes such as BAX, CASP3, CASP7 and APAF1. Furthermore, RTqPCR analysis indicated an increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, to confirm the role of reactive oxygen species in the proliferation inhibition, DCFH-DA-based analysis was carried out, where a dose-dependent increase in ROS levels was observed in these cells. Overall, the study confirms the anticancer efficacy of A. tetracantha leaf methanol extract mediated through the induction of redox imbalance and cytochrome c release.

In Vitro and In Silico Toxicological Properties of Natural Antioxidant Therapeutic Agent Azima tetracantha. LAM

Plant-derived antioxidants are a large group of natural products with the capacity to reduce radical-scavenging. Due to their potent therapeutic and preventive actions, these compounds receive a lot of attention from scientists, particularly pharmacologists. The pharmacological activities of the Azima tetracantha Lam. (AT) plant, belonging to the Salvadoraceae family, reported here justifies its traditional use in treating several diseases or disorders. This study aims to look at the propensity of certain plant compounds found in natural AT plant extracts that might play a critical role as a secondary metabolite in cervical cancer treatment. There is a shortage of information on the plant’s phytochemical and biological characteristics. Methanol (MeOH) solvent extracts of the dried AT plant were screened phytochemically. Its aqueous extract was tested for antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous properties. Absorption Distribution Metabolism and Excretion (ADME/T), Docking, and HPLC were also performed. In clinical treatment, the plant shown no adverse effects. The antioxidant activity was evaluated and showed the highest concentration at 150 µg/mL (63.50%). MeOH leaf extract of AT exhibited the highest and best inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (15.3 mm/1000) and displayed a high antiseptic potential. At a 200 µg/mL concentration, MeOH leaves-extract inhibited red blood cells (RBC) hemolysis by 66.56 ± 0.40, compared with 62.33 ± 0.40 from the standard. Albumin’s ability to suppress protein denaturation ranged from 16.75 ± 0.65 to 62.35 ± 0.20 inhibitions in this test, providing even more support for its favorable anti-inflammatory properties. The ADME/T studies were considered for a potential cancer drug molecule, and one of our compounds from MeOH extract fills the ADME and toxicity parameters. The forms of compound 4 showed a strong hydrogen-bonding interaction with the vital amino acids (ASN923, THR410, LEU840TRY927, PHE921, and GLY922). A total of 90% of cell inhibition was observed when HeLa cell lines were treated with 300 µg/mL of compound 4 (7-acetyl-3a1-methyl- 4,14-dioxo-1,2,3a,3a1,4,5,5a,6,8a,9b,10,11,11a-tetradecahydro-2,5a epoxy5,6a (methanooxymethano)phenaleno[1′,9′:5,6,7]indeno[1,7a-b]oxiren-2-yl acetate). The polyphenol compounds demonstrated significant advances in anticancer drug properties, and it could lead to activation of cancer cell apoptosis.

Hypolipidemic effect of azima tetracantha on lipid profile markers of carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity in rats

This study was aimed at evaluating the hypolipidemic effects of ethanolic extract of Azima tetracantha leaves against liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in male albino Wistar rats and to compare the same with the reference drug silymarin. Six groups of rats with six rats in each group were used as the experimental subject. Animals were allocated into a control group and liver toxicity control group. The remaining four groups received in addition to CCl4, silymarin (20 mg/kg/d) as a reference treatment and Azima tetracantha (100, 200 and 400mg/kg/d). Once the experiment period was completed, the biomarkers of lipid profile, including total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)] were evaluated. Azima tetracantha significantly decreased the serum lipid profile markers cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acids, VLDL, LDL, and increased HDL. Azima tetracantha could be a promising protective agent against cholesterol through the improvement of liver function, modulation of CCl4 by-products formation and thus has hypolipidemic potentials.