Assessment of the Anti-proliferative Effect and Preliminary Analysis of Cell Cycle Arrest and Pro-apoptotic Effects of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile on Colorectal Cancer Cells HCT-116 and HT-29

Abstract

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae), is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of intestinal worms, wounds, and inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study is to assess the anti-proliferative effect and to analyse the pro-apoptotic and cell cycle arrest activities of B. aegyptiaca root bark extract and fractions against colorectal cancer cells HCT-116 and HT-29. The cytotoxicity of the crude extract and fractions were evaluated by MTS assay. The most active fractionwas subjected to crystal violet assay, Hoechst staining, cell cycle arrest, and annexin V/PI assays on cancer cells to highlight its mechanisms of action. The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the most cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 and HT-29 with IC50 values ranging between 3 and 4 µg/mL. At 10 µg/mL in the cell cycle arrest assay, the fraction increased G1 phase by 3.83% on HCT-116 and by 8.6% on HT-29 whilst G2/M phase was decreased by 5.63% on HCT-116 and by 6.62% on HT-29. Moreover, apoptotic cells were increased by 11.4% on HCT-116. The results suggest a potential source of anticancer molecules against colorectal cancer for isolation from the ethyl acetate fraction.