Chromatography-mass spectrometry based chemical profiling of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. and its beneficial effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in HEK 293T cells and breast cancer cells

Abstract

Chemical profiling of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. and exploring its efficacy against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HEK 293T cells and anticancer potential was the aim of this pilot study. One of the main areas of natural product research in the modern period is the search of naturally occurring antioxidants and their potential to ward-off cancer. So, medicinally and pharmacologically important plant M. pruriens was selected for the study. The collected M. pruriens seeds were sequentially extracted with hexane, chloroform, methanol, water and chemoprofiled using GC-MS, GC-FID and LC-QTOF-MS/MS. DPPH, phosphomolybdenum, FRP and ferrous chelating assays were performed for in vitro antioxidant efficacies whereas Folin-Ciocalteu method for total phenolic content of sequential extracts. The cellular antioxidant efficacy of the screened extract was studied through H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HEK 293T cells (MTT and PI Live dead assay with FACS). The anticancer effect of sequential extracts was checked on MCF-7 cells using MTT assay. The chemical profiling revealed the presence of high-value phytochemicals like terpenes, alkaloids and phenolic compounds in these extracts. Water extract was profound for in vitro antioxidant activity and comparable with the synthetic antioxidant. The total phenolic content of the extracts and its positive correlation with antioxidant activity were also established. The screened water extract further showed a promising protective effect on the oxidative stress induced HEK 293T cells and also effective for its cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells. Many of the identified metabolites are reported for the first time from the selected plant. The potential of water extract to serve as a cheap and alternative antioxidant instead of synthetic options was explored. The high in vitro cytotoxicity of water extract against breast cancer cells indicates the chance of exploration of these extracts/its high-value phytochemicals as an anticancer drug. Since the water extract is screened with remarkable activities, this study has further relevance as both economic and environmental friendly. As it is water and devoid of any solvent residues, the screened extract would not impart any environmental pollution and health hazards.