therapeutic avenues. Natural compounds from medicinal plants offer promising prospects in cancer
research. Alkanna orientalis, a member of the Boraginaceae family, has attracted attention for its
potential as an anticancer agent. This study aims to assess the cytotoxic activity and phytochemical
composition of crude extracts from fresh flowers and leaves of Alkanna orientalis. Methods: Fresh
flowers and leaves of Alkanna orientalis were collected and subjected to methanol extraction. The yield
of crude extracts was determined. Cytotoxic activity against A549 and HepG-2 cancer cell lines was
evaluated using the MTT assay, with IC50 values calculated. Total phenolics and flavonoids were
quantified using Folin-Ciocalteu and Hatamnia's methods, respectively. Results: Extraction yielded
6.3% from fresh flowers and 7.92% from fresh leaves. Compound No. 2 exhibited lower IC50 values
than Compound No. 1 against both cell lines, indicating stronger cytotoxic activity. Sample No. 2
demonstrated higher total phenolic (93.17 ± 4.76 mg/gm) and flavonoid (65.17 ± 2.58 mg/gm) contents
compared to Sample No. 1. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the promising anticancer potential of
Alkanna orientalis extracts, warranting further exploration of their mechanisms of action and
therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. |
