Antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic potentials of seeds of Momordica subangulata subsp. renigera inhibit the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice

Abstract

The study was aimed to determine the phytochemical content, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities along with exploring antineoplastic potency of Momordica subangulata subsp. renigera seeds. Methanolic extract (5 g) of seeds of Momordica subangulata (MESMS) was prepared by maceration of 250 g powdered sample with 500 mL methanol at room temperature. Different in vitro assays were used to estimate total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as determine free radical scavenging activities of MESMS. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of MESMS were found to be 113.25 and 48.6 mg (g of extract)−1 in terms of gallic acid and catechin equivalent, respectively. The MESMS showed very good scavenging activity on DPPH (IC50: 7.78 μg mL−1) and ABTS (IC50: 9.10 μg mL−1) radicals in respect to nitric oxide (IC50: 52.45 μg mL−1) and superoxide (IC50: 68.16 μg mL−1) radicals. In vitro MESMS showed 21.76–89.37% inhibitory effect against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells at the concentration range of 3.125–100 μg mL−1 and the inhibitory effect was increased with increasing of concentration. In addition, MESMS (at 10 and 20 mg kg−1) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the viable EAC cell count and body weight gain of mice due to tumor burden as well as increased 38.35% and 55.35% life span and rescued the deteriorated haematological parameters of cancer cell bearing mice. Moreover, apoptotic characteristics and induction of p53 gene expression in MESMS-treated EAC cells were noted during fluorescence microscopic observation and RT-PCR analysis. Finally it can be summarized that MESMS with rich phenolic content and antioxidant activity, inhibited EAC through p53-dependent apoptosis.