Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and Anti-Proliferative Potential of Veratric Acid: An in vitro Approach

Abstract

Medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents play a vital role in the prevention of oxidative stress mediated diseases such as cancer and diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to investigate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and anti-proliferative potential of veratric acid in vitro. The study analysed the antioxidant potential of veratric acid using in vitro free radical scavenging assays. The anti-proliferative potential of veratric acid was assessed by utilizing 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changes, intracellular ROS generation measurement and by determining the morphological alterations using Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide (Ao/EtBr) staining in the subline of Keratin-forming tumour cell line HeLa (KB). Veratric acid showed a good antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and the effect was found to be much comparable to that of the reference drug, ascorbic acid. Veratric acid significantly reduced the cell viability of KB cells and IC50 was 80 μg/ml. Veratric acid reduced the cell viability by generating excess ROS through activation of MMP depolarization and by inducing the apoptotic cell death of KB cells. The in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative effect of veratric acid could be used further to validate its anti-carcinogenic potential using ideal experimental animal models.&nbsp