Phytochemical and Cytotoxic Properties of Gum and Leaf Extracts of Ferula assafoetida

Breast cancer, a significant threat to women's health, is associated with a high annual mortality rate. Oxidative stress, characterized by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, plays a pivotal role in cancer development. Ferula assafoetida, a traditional medicinal plant, has been widely used in cancer treatment. This study aims to compare the cytotoxic effects, phytochemical profiles, and antioxidant activities of Ferula assafoetida gum (FAGE) and leaf (FALE) extracts.

The herbal extracts from FAGE and FALE were prepared using the maceration method in 70% v/v ethanol. The phenolic content and radical scavenging activity of the extracts were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu and diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively.the cytotoxic effects of the extracts were examined on the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines through the MTT assay. Additionally, the morphological changes of the cell lines were observed using an inverted microscope.

The phenolic content in FAGE (142.25± 19.35 µgGAE/mg) was significantly higher (P=0.01) than that in FALE (48.15± 3.01 µgGAE/mg). Additionally, the radical scavenging activity and cytotoxic effects of FAGE were also significantly stronger than those of FALE (P< 0.05). Regarding the cytotoxic effects of the extracts, FAGE exhibited IC50 values of 80.59± 10.98 and 59.39± 15.89 µg/mL for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively, after 72 hours of incubation.

FAGE exhibited a greater cytotoxic effect on the MDA-MB-231 cell line than on the MCF-7, possibly following an estrogen-independent pattern. It appears that FAGE holds significant potential in refining oxidative stress, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation.