Exploring the Antimitotic Potential of Benincasa Hispida Seed Extract on HepG2 Cells.

OBJECTIVE

Cancer continues to pose a significant worldwide health concern, underscoring the need for the identification of innovative, safer, and more effective therapeutic agents. Phytochemicals obtained from medicinal plants are progressively acknowledged for their anticancer efficacy. This work investigates the antimitotic and antiproliferative properties of the ethanolic extract of Benincasa hispida seeds (EeBHS), known as winter melon, from the Cucurbitaceae family.

METHODS

Antimitotic activity was assessed using the Allium cepa root tip meristem test and the seed germination assay. The mitotic index and the distribution of cells throughout several mitotic stages were examined after treatment with EeBHS at varying doses. Methotrexate, a recognized antineoplastic agent, served as the standard control. The antiproliferative activity of EeBHS was evaluated using the MTT assay on HepG2 liver cancer cell lines to determine cytotoxicity and growth suppression.

RESULTS

EeBHS exhibited a notable dose-dependent suppression of mitotic activity in Allium cepa root tips and sprouted seeds (p < 0.001). The mitotic index significantly decreased in EeBHS-treated groups (57 ± 0.5 in root tips and 44 ± 1.2 in seeds) relative to controls (67 ± 1.2 and 96 ± 1.2, respectively). Methotrexate also lowered the mitotic index, thereby corroborating the concept. An increased percentage of cells in prophase and metaphase in treated groups signified mitotic arrest. In HepG2 cells, doses of EeBHS ranging from 5 to 7 ng/μL markedly suppressed cell growth, indicating potent cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

EeBHS has significant antimitotic and antiproliferative properties, presumably attributable to its bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, underscoring its potential as a natural anticancer agent that merits further investigation.