Unveiling the Anticancer Roles of Natural Products: A Biochemical Investigation

Abstract

This research paper is divided into mainly following parts: Background, Aim, Methods, Result and Conclusion

Background: Cancer is humanity's greatest medical disease, with 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths yearly. Mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes cause excessive cell growth. Thus, conventional medication side effects have influenced the search for natural solutions. Some active substances including curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and paclitaxel may be effective with low toxicity. This study aims to explore the anticancer properties of selected natural compounds, focusing on their biochemical interactions in cancer treatment.

Methodology: This is an explorative clinical trial that uses biochemical assays of cancer cell lines. The study applied these main methodologies, including measuring cell viability through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (MTT assay), Annexin V and Propidium Iodide Apoptosis (Annexin V/PI) staining, and reactive oxygen species by the dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The concentration ranges for the compounds under study included 10, 20 and 40 and 80 µM of the compounds studied over intervals of 24, 48 and 72 hours.

Results: Results showed that all chemicals reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis. Curcumin and Paclitaxel cause substantial reductions in GSH levels, with Curcumin dropping to 1.9 ± 0.2 and Paclitaxel to 1.5 ± 0.2 at 80 μM. These findings emphasize the compounds' role in inducing oxidative stress and disrupting cellular redox balance, further driving apoptosis. The consistent dose-dependent effects on cell viability, apoptosis, ROS, and GSH levels after 72 hours suggest the strong therapeutic potential of these compounds in cancer treatment.

Conclusion: This study confirms that natural compounds have strong anticancer potential and act through mechanisms such as cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis, and modulation of oxidative stress. The above findings open further research into natural compounds as promising cancer therapies with lesser side effects.