PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND IN SILICO EVALUATION OF SAPONIN-RICH EXTRACTS FROM PIPER NIGRUM ROOT FOR ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTICANCER POTENTIAL AGAINST SKIN CANCER CELL LINES

Abstract

Piper nigrum root, a traditional little-explored source of saponins, has promising therapeutic assets. Saponins are biologically active plant mixtures with antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer assets. This study inspected saponin-rich extracts from Piper nigrum root, a traditional but scientifically unexplored source. The main components of saponin were identified using GC-MS analysis in addition phytochemical examination of the methanolic extracts. DPPH in addition FRAP assays were used to measure antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, accompanied by the inhibition of alpha-amylase also alpha-glucosidase. Antimicrobial and anticancer assays were done for the saponins. Using AutoDock Vina over Pyrx, it was found that the saponins are molecularly bonded to the target enzymes. The extract has been shown to have excellent activity in reducing FRAP and in scavenging DPPH (78.42 percent at 100 µg per ml). At 500 mg/mL, it inhibited both alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase by 79.31 and 75.14%, respectively. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays clearly demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in the viability of A431 skin cancer cells. Similar observations were obtained in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assays using saponin.  Docking studies have shown high affinity (up to - 9.1 kcal mol) for key enzymes, which is supported by multiple hydrogen-bond interactions. The dual therapeutic efficacy of P. nigrum root saponins highlights their viability as a natural alternative for the management of oxidative and diabetic diseases.