In vitro bioactivity and phytochemical characterization of a polyherbal extract with antioxidant and anticancer...

Herbal extracts are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential due to their rich phytochemical composition and associated bioactivities. This study evaluates the antioxidant and anticancer properties of a compound extract derived from Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and Black Seed (Nigella sativa), Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed high total phenolic (89.35 ± 0.36 mg GAE/g) and tannin content (88.60 ± 0.51 mg GAE/g), along with moderate flavonoid (28.67 ± 0.09 mg QE/g) and flavonol (10.52 ± 0.51 mg QE/g) levels, indicative of robust antioxidant potential. The extract demonstrated notable free-radical scavenging activity, with IC_{5 0} values of 359.93 ± 9.91 µg/mL and 292.93 ± 4.24 µg/mL in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays, respectively. Cytotoxicity evaluation against Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells showed an IC_{5 0} value of 103.40 ± 4.51 µg/mL, supporting its anticancer potential. UV-Vis spectral analysis identified a prominent peak at 323.14 nm, suggesting the presence of phenolic and aromatic compounds, while zeta potential analysis (-22.1 ± 6.92 mV) indicated moderate dispersion stability. These results provide preliminary evidence supporting the extract's potential as a multifunctional bioactive formulation and offer a foundation for future mechanistic and in vivo investigations.