Abstract
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including cancer, by reacting with fundamental biomolecules. While conventional anticancer treatments such as ionizing radiation and chemotherapy have significant adverse effects, some medicinal plants exhibit free radical scavenging and anticancer activities. Spilanthes acmella L., commonly known as the toothache plant, is reported to have various bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties. The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate antiproliferative potential of Spilanthes acmella ethanolic extract on human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa) and human myelogenous leukemia (K562) cancer cell lines. The stock solution of Spilanthes acmella extract was prepared in ethanol at concentration of 1 mg/mL and diluted with complete nutrient medium RPMI-1640. The medium was supplemented with 3 mM l-glutamine, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, 100 IU/mL penicillin, 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 25 mM Hepes, adjusted to pH 7.2. Cell survival was determined by the MTT assay 72 hours post-treatment. The IC50 values were calculated using a dose-response growth curve. The S. acmella ethanolic extract demonstrated significant cytotoxic (antiproliferative) effects on both HeLa and K562 cancer cell lines. The extract exhibited higher cytotoxicity towards K562 cells, with an IC50 value of 29.1 µg/mL, compared to HeLa cells, which had an IC50 value of 48.8 µg/mL. Spilanthes acmella extract possesses considerable potential as an anticancer agent and warrants further in vivo investigations to confirm its efficacy.