In vitro Antiproliferative and Cytotoxic potential of the Siddha formulation - Neeradi Muthu Vallathi Mezhugu - Against HeLa Cervical cancer cell line

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most prevalent illness in women all over the world, killing around a quarter million people each year. Conventional therapy risks the emergence of drug resistance, recurrence, and metastases. Hence, high-efficacy, low-side-effect medicines are needed. Siddha, an Indian traditional medicine, can help find new cervical cancer treatments. Objective: The primary purpose of the present research is to screen the anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic potential of the Siddha formulation Neeradi Muthu Vallathi Mezhugu (NMVM) using MTT and double staining techniques against the human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa).  Methods: The percentage viability of HeLa cells was determined by the MTT, acridine orange, and ethidium bromide staining assay model after incubation with test drug NMVM at concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml. Results:  Results of the MTT assay signifies that the lowest viability was observed at 100µg/ml (31.23 ± 0.63), followed by 50 µg/ml and 25µg/ml, with percentage viability of 52.64 ± 0.51 and 69.99 ± 1.74 found in MTT assay. The corresponding IC₅₀ value of the test drug NMVM was 151.34 µg/ml. Results of the apoptotic assay showcase the representation of normal morphology in the control group with a major emittance of green fluorescence which indicates the existence of viable cells. Conclusion: Based on the current study's findings, it was determined that the siddha formulation NMVM has potential anticancer capabilities against the HeLa cells; nevertheless, more research is required before the medicine can be recommended for therapeutic use.