Coleus aromaticus Benth.-A Plant with Strong Anticancer and Antioxidant Potential In Vitro

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Natural Products

Background:

• Gastrointestinal cancers (gastric, colon) pose a significant global health challenge with limited treatment options.
• Natural products are gaining attention as potential chemopreventive agents against these cancers.
• Coleus aromaticus, known for its culinary uses, possesses unexamined biological and pharmacological potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of various Coleus aromaticus extracts and juice.
• To determine the phytochemical composition, including total phenolic and flavonoid content, and volatile compounds.
• To identify potential natural therapeutic agents for gastrointestinal cancer chemoprevention.

Main Methods:

• Anticancer activity assessed using MTT assay on human gastric (AGS) and colorectal (HCT 116) cancer cells.
• Antioxidant potential evaluated via DPPH, ABTS, and molybdenum reducing power assays.
• Antimicrobial activity determined using broth microdilution; phytochemical analysis included TPC, TFC, GC-MS, and GC-FID.

Main Results:

• The ethanol extract demonstrated the strongest anticancer activity (IC50: 4.94 µg/mL for AGS, 24.99 µg/mL for HCT 116) and antioxidant potential.
• Ethanol and ethanol/water extracts showed potent antimicrobial activity against Clostridium perfringens (MIC <0.02 mg/mL).
• Phytochemical analysis revealed high phenolic (75.87 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (176.01 mg QE/g) content in the ethanol extract, with carvacrol as a major volatile compound.

Conclusions:

• Coleus aromaticus, especially its ethanol extract, shows significant potential as a chemopreventive agent for gastrointestinal cancers.
• The plant's strong anticancer and antioxidant properties, attributed to its phytochemical profile, warrant further investigation.
• This study supports the use of Coleus aromaticus in natural product-based cancer prevention strategies.