EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTICANCER AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF A NOVEL POLYHERBAL AYURVEDIC FORMULATION IN A549 LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS

Abstract

Introduction: Lung cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Polyherbal Ayurvedic formulations may provide multi-component biological activity, but each formulation requires direct experimental evaluation. Materials and Methods: A twelve-plant formulation was tested. Cell viability was measured by a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay, free-radical scavenging by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, and apoptosis-associated damage by deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were included as a preliminary non-malignant comparator. Results: A549 viability declined concentration-dependently and reached approximately 30–35% of untreated control at 2500 µg/mL, whereas peripheral blood mononuclear cells retained comparatively high viability. Radical scavenging reached approximately 70% at the highest concentration. Treated A549 cells displayed low-molecular-weight deoxyribonucleic acid fragments, although fragmentation was less pronounced than with paclitaxel. Conclusion: The formulation demonstrated concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against A549 cells, substantial radical-scavenging activity, apoptosis-associated DNA fragmentation, and comparatively preserved peripheral blood mononuclear-cell viability, supporting further preclinical evaluation as a candidate polyherbal anticancer formulation.