BALANITES AEGYPTIACA SEED EXTRACT AND ITS ACTIVE COMPOUND, BALANITIN 6, PROMOTE CASPASE-DEPENDENT APOPTOSIS, LEADING TO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Abstract

Balanites aegyptiaca Linn. Delile (BA) is a well-known medicinal plant that has been traditionally used for treating several human ailments, notably as an antibacterial, in skin disorders, for wound healing, and as an antioxidant. In this study, both the phytochemical profile and cytotoxic potential of BA were investigated using standard methodologies. Briefly, a hydro alcoholic (50:50) extract of seeds was prepared and subjected to phytochemical investigation. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by a cell proliferation assay (MTT) against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, FaDu, and human PBMCs. To further elucidate the mechanism of action, an ELISA was performed for caspases and Bcl family proteins. The results revealed that the hydro-alcoholic seed extract of BA possesses significant antioxidant and anticancer activities. Notably, Balanitin 6 (BAL-6) exhibited potent anticancer effects against MCF-7 cells through a caspase/p53/Bcl family-mediated apoptotic pathway. These findings validate the ethnomedicinal claims of BA and, for the first time, highlight its novelty as a promising source for the isolation of lead molecules with potent antioxidant and anticancer potential.