Antioxidant Potential and Genomic DNA Fragmentation Induced by Balanites aegyptiaca Extract in A549 Lung Cancer Cells. Implications of Synergistic Effects with Gemcitabine. | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Chemistry | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 10 April 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejchem.2025.359755.11301 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Elsayed I. Salim* 1; Abeer A. Khamis2; Doaa R. Bodour3 | ||
| 1Professor of Cell biology and Genetics. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University | ||
| 2Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. | ||
| 3Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The present investigation examined the potential antioxidant and cytotoxic impact of Balanites aegyptiaca extract (BAE) against A549 lung cancer cells in vitro using a Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. After extraction and characterization with GC-MS chromatography, which showed the principal components of the BAE, and the evaluation of the total antioxidant capacity of BAE that indicated a clear antioxidant activity, the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of A549 cancer cells was determined. Four groups of cells were treated: Group 1 (G1); Untreated control, Group 2 (G2); BAE alone, Group 3 (G3); Gemcitabine (Gem) alone, and Group 4 (G4); Combination of Gem + BAE. (1:1 volume). The results showed that the treatment with BAE, Gem, or their combination reduced the numbers of A549 viable cells in a concentration-dependent manner and induced DNA fragmentation, causing clear cellular toxicity and apoptosis. After treatment, the cells showed shrinkage, rounding, detaching, floating, swelling, and rupture, exhibiting apoptotic features. The combination treatment has shown more obvious apoptotic topographies. Furthermore, the lipid peroxidation levels in A549 lung cancer cells were significantly decreased by treatment, the antioxidative stress enzyme activities of super oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), were increased and the catalase (Cat) activity was down-regulated in all treatments. In conclusion, BA extract induced dual antioxidant and apoptotic effects indicated by strong DNA fragmentation; both enhanced Gem's activity when administered in combination. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Balanites aegyptiaca; combination therapy; Gemcitabine; A549 lung cancer cells; Antioxidant; GC-MS; DNA fragmentation | ||
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