GC–MS-based phytochemical profiling and cytotoxic potential of Cassia auriculata methanolic leaf extract on human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells
Paper Details
GC–MS-based phytochemical profiling and cytotoxic potential of Cassia auriculata methanolic leaf extract on human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells
Abstract
Cassia auriculata is a medicinal plant widely recognized in traditional medicine for its diverse therapeutic properties. The present study was undertaken to investigate the phytochemical composition and in vitro cytotoxic potential of the methanolic leaf extract of Cassia auriculata. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, carbohydrates, and proteins. Quantitative analysis demonstrated appreciable levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids, indicating the abundance of antioxidant-rich secondary metabolites. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids with characteristic Rf values, providing a distinct phytochemical fingerprint of the extract. Further characterization by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified twenty-nine bioactive compounds belonging to various chemical classes, including phenolics, fatty acids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, alcohols, and esters. Among the identified constituents, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (48.50%), α-tocopherol-β-D-mannoside (14.22%), resorcinol (11.80%), and n-hexadecanoic acid (3.21%) were the predominant compounds. The cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extract was evaluated against human epidermoid carcinoma cells using MTT, Trypan Blue and Lactate Dehydrogenase assays. The IC₅₀ values obtained were 198.6 ± 8.5 µg/ml for the MTT assay, 268.3 ± 10.2 µg/ml for the Trypan Blue assay, and 210.8 ± 9.1 µg/ml for the LDH assay, confirming the ability of the extract to inhibit cell viability and induce membrane damage.
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V. Vinotha, R. Rajakumar*, 2026. GC–MS-based phytochemical profiling and cytotoxic potential of Cassia auriculata methanolic leaf extract on human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 29(1), 64-75.
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