The heart-leaved moonseed is considered an important drug in the Indian Systems of Medicine, having been used in medicine since the ancient times. In traditional medicine, the herb – also known as the Indian bitter – is heavily prescribed for a lot of conditions, including urinary problems, skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Earlier studies have found that the extracts of the heart-leaved moonseed contained antifungal and antimicrobial properties, and combining it with turmeric can protect the liver from drug-induced toxicity, especially from those used to treat tuberculosis. An isolate polysaccharide from the plant has also been noted to protect the brain from oxidation, based on murine tests.
In this study, researchers looked at whether the plant could prevent the rapid spread of malignant cells, using a plant extract as well as its fractions. In particular, the team tested its antiproliferative activity against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) in vitro. They also investigated the plant's ability to minimize oxidative stress, in hopes of making it an adjuvant treatment in cancer progression.
"This is the first preliminary study which employed the stems of this plant as [a] potential source of antioxidant and cytotoxic agents," the researchers said in their report.
The team obtained an ethanol extract (TCE) from the stems of the heart-leaved moonseed and fractionated it using petroleum ether (TCP), n-butanol (TCB), and water (TCA). All derivatives were then subjected to multiple assays to determine its phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as its antioxidant properties. To measure the antiproliferative ability of the extract and its fractions, these were subjected to MTT and SRB assays using cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines.
Researchers found that TCE and TCB offered better antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, compared to other fractions. In addition, TCB also displayed superior antioxidant activity, based on the DPPH assay, as well as the ABTS, nitric oxide, and iron chelating activities. Results from cell assays also revealed that TCE and TBC were cytotoxic against HeLa cell lines.
The researchers concluded that the heart-leaved moonseed indeed is a rich source of antioxidants, thanks to the number of phenolics that it has. They added, "T. cordifolia stem extracts have considerable antioxidant properties and the consumption of this plant may play a role in preventing human diseases in which free radicals are involved, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature aging."
Regarding its ability to prevent the proliferation of HeLa cell lines, the team noted that the plant has the potential to be used in first-line treatments against cancer without the need for chemotherapy. They noted that more studies are needed to determine the possible mechanism of action and understand which phytonutrients are responsible for the plant's anti-cancer properties.
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