Abstract

EXPLORING THE ANTICANCER, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF PARKIA BIGLOBOSA SEED LIQUOR

Rahmatu Baba Mohammed, Sherif Hamidu, Abigail Aning, Eunice Ampem-Danso, Regina Appiah-Opong* and Alexander Kwadwo Nyarko

Abstract

Background: Cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Oxidative stress and inflammation play key roles in cancer pathophysiology. Challenges associated with conventional management are driving the search for alternatively safer, more effective, and accessible cancer therapies. This study aimed to investigate the liquor from Parkia biglobosa, used traditionally to manage various diseases for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Methods: Freeze-dried extract of P. biglobosa seed liquor (PBL) and a hydroethanolic fractionated (HPBL) were prepared. Qualitative phytochemical screening of PBL, Highperformance liquid chromatographic fingerprinting of the extracts, and assays for extracts’ antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities against human prostate cancer (PC-3), human Tlymphoblastic leukemia (Jurkat), and human colon cancer (HCT-15) cancer cell lines were done. Results: The quantitative phytochemical screening showed that both PBL and HPBL contained flavonoid and phenolic substances as well as glutathione. HPBL had stronger antioxidant activity compared to PBL. The extracts also demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activities. Moderate to weak cytotoxicity was measured with PBL for PC-3, Jurkat, and HCT-15 (IC50 values, 33.09, 77.88, and > 1000 μg/mL, respectively) and this was similar to HPBL (IC50 values, 45.08 μg/mL, >1000 μg/mL, and >1000 μg/mL, respectively). Neither PBL nor HPBL was cytotoxic to normal cells. The selectivity indices of PBL were 12.84 and 30.22 in Jurkat and PC-3 cells, respectively, and the selectivity index of HPBL was 22.18 in Jurkat cells. Conclusion: These findings provide empirical evidence for the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of Parkia biglobosa liquor.

Keywords: Parkia biglobosa, phytochemicals, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer.