Pro-oxidants play a crucial role in cancer by causing oxidative stress that leads to apoptosis. The present study demonstrates the prooxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of Garcinia xanthochymus fruit. Oxidation of Trolox and NADH activity indicated the pro-oxidant capacity of the extracts. Significant decrease in cell viability in B16F10 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines and significant increase in caspase 3 activity after treatment with extracts indicated pro-oxidant induced apoptosis. Pre-treatment with the extracts significantly inhibited ROS, reduced NO production, inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 and suppressed IL-6 and TNF-α expression. HRMS analysis showed the presence of compounds like biflavonoids, xanthones, phloroglucinols, benzophenones, etc. The fruit is rich in total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and have DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant and metal chelating potential. This study report for the first time about the anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of G. xanthochymus whole fruit.
Keywords: Gamboge fruit; antiproliferative; biflavonoids; cytokines; reactive oxygen species.