Application of microscopy and spectroscopy in investigating anti-cancer potential of Achyranthes aspera L. leaves

The genus Achyranthes belong to the family Amaranthaceae which constitutes an important group of herbs and shrubs with immense medicinal value. The present research work was conducted to investigate the anticancer potential of Achyranthes aspera L. leaves by focusing on the antioxidant, aniproliferative and antimitotic activities of leaf extracts. Plant extraction was carried out by soxhelt method with different solvents. Phytochemical characterization of the plants extracts using chemical methods identified the presence of cardiac glycosides, saponins, coumarins, proteins, tannins, flavonoids and triterpenes. Alkaloid was present in methanolic and ethanolic extract. High performance liquid chromatography showed presence of different concentration of myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol in different extracts with the highest concentration of myricetin (84.53 μg/mL) in n-butanolic extract. The extracts were then tested for antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay by spectrophotometric method. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, antioxidant activity of A. aspera ranged between 79.78 ± 0.034% and 58.63 ± 0.069%. Highest antioxidant activity was observed for methanolic extract and lowest for acetone. Antimitotic activity was determined by using Allium cepa assay in which microscopic investigation was carried out to observe normal and abnormal phases of mitosis. In this assay, n-butanolic extract had highest antimitotic activity with minimum mitotic index at 2 mg/mL (57 ± 0.0351%). The plant extracts also caused chromosomal and mitotic aberrations which were clearly observed under 40× and 100× magnification of compound microscope. Antiproliferative activity was determined by using yeast cell model in which light microscope with hemocytometer was used for cell counting. In case of Antiproliferative activity, the ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera had highest antiproliferative activity with lowest cell viability (22.14 ± 0.076%) at highest extract concentration (2 mg/mL) while methanol extract of A. aspera had highest antiproliferative activity with lower cell viability (24.24 ± 0.057%) at lowest extract concentration (0.25 mg/mL). The results of the study indicated that the leaves extract of A. aspera have strong potential to be used as a source of anti-cancer agent. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Achyranthes aspera L. leaves have various phytochemicals which contribute to its medicinal properties Various extracts of the leaves of A. aspera L. possess antioxidant, antimitotic and antiproliferative potential The results of the study indicated that the leaves extract of A. aspera have strong potential to be used as a source of anti-cancer agent.