Phytochemical characterization of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum seeds and its anticancer efficacy against human oral cancer.

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of oral and pharyngeal malignancies and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The search for safer, plant-derived anticancer agents has highlighted the therapeutic potential of Cuminum cyminum (cumin), a medicinal spice rich in bioactive phytochemicals.

Aim

This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, , cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing activities of the methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum (MECC) against human oral carcinoma cell lines (KB, KB-31 and KB-CHR.8.5) and normal Vero cells. Additionally, the antibacterial potential of MECC was also evaluated.

Materials And Methods

Phytochemical profiling was performed using HPLC. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT and Trypan Blue assays following treatment with MECC (500-1000 μg/mL). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay, while antibacterial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Apoptosis was assessed using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) and Hoechst 33342 staining.

Results

HPLC analysis revealed multiple phytochemical constituents, with a major peak at 9.90 min. MECC exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity, with predicted IC₅₀ values of approximately 600 μg/mL (KB), 720 μg/mL (KB-31), 1318 μg/mL (KB-CHR.8.5) and 3250 μg/mL (Vero), yielding tumor selectivity indices of 5.42, 4.51 and 2.47, respectively. MECC also demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ ≈ 354 μg/mL) and induced concentration-dependent apoptosis, characterized by chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. No significant antibacterial activity was observed against either of the evaluated bacterial strain.

Conclusion

MECC exhibited selective cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in oral cancer cells with minimal toxicity toward normal Vero cells, supporting its potential as a promising natural chemopreventive and an adjunct chemotherapeutic candidate for oral cancer. Further mechanistic and in vivo studies are warranted.