Assessment of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Plumbago zeylanica

Abstract

Plumbago zeylanica, a medicinal plant traditionally used in Ayurveda, mainly for its roots, while the therapeutic potential of its leaves remains less studied. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and anticancer effects of P. zeylanica ethanolic leaf extracts. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity was studied using standard methods. Anticancer activity against HeLa cells was evaluated using MTT, Scratch, Clonogenic, Methylene blue, and Hoechst staining assays. The ethanolic extract showed higher flavonoid content (26.95 ± 0.746 mg QE/g), FRAP activity (26.23 ± 0.891 mg AAE/g), and reducing antioxidant power (19.39 ± 1.16 mg AAE/g). The radical scavenging activity was significantly higher for ABTS assay (75.1%) as compared to DPPH assay (26.8%) and superoxide scavenging assay (18.88%). Although the extract exhibited marginal cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, it induced significant morphological alterations including cell rounding at 200 μg/mL. Cell migration and colony formation was abolished by 50 μg/mL extract. Staining assays indicated increased cytoplasmic granularity, compromised membrane integrity and modest apoptosis at 200 μg/mL. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the ethanolic leaf extract of P. zeylanica possesses moderate anticancer potential characterized primarily by anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activities, warranting further investigation of its phytochemicals as potential chemopreventive or chemosensitizing agents.