In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Benincasa hispida Fruit Extract Against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells: Assessment of Apoptosis and Intracellular ROS
Abstract: Background: Plant-derived compounds that combine antioxidant action with specific cytotoxicity toward malignant cells continue to be of interest as breast cancer continues to be the most often diagnosed cancer and a major cause of cancer-related death among women globally. The traditionally used medicinal fruit Benincasa hispida (Cucurbitaceae), also referred to as ash gourd or wax gourd, is said to contain flavonoids, phenolics, and triterpenoid cucurbitacin?s with antioxidant and anticancer properties. Objective: This study assessed the ethanolic Benincasa hispida fruit extract's (BHE) in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, and apoptosis-inducing properties. Methods: DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays were used to measure antioxidant capacity; MTT assays were used to measure cytotoxicity in normal Vero cells and MCF-7 breast cancer cells; acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) dual staining was used to measure apoptosis; and dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining was used to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results: DPPH and nitric oxide radicals were scavenged by BHE in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 64.3 and 73.16 ?g/mL, respectively, compared to 27.74 and 34.18 ?g/mL for ascorbic acid). With an IC50 of roughly 568 ?g/mL, BHE decreased Vero cell viability, but MCF-7 vitality decreased much more sharply (IC50 = 38 ?g/mL), resulting in a selectivity index of roughly 15.0 in Favor of the cancer cell line. Following treatment at the MCF-7 IC50, AO/EtBr staining revealed a roughly 14-fold increase in apoptotic cells along with a noticeable increase in DCF-DA fluorescence, which indicated enhanced intracellular ROS. Conclusion: BHE demonstrated moderate free-radical scavenging activity and greater cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cells than Vero cells, accompanied by apoptosis-like morphological changes and increased intracellular ROS-associated fluorescence and supports additional bioassay-guided fractionation, mechanistic, and in vivo assessment of its potential as a breast cancer chemo preventive or adjuvant drug.
Keywords: Benincasa hispida, MCF-7, Vero cells, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species
How to Cite?: Ramganesh J, S. Gopikirshnan, T. Praveena, M. Bhavithra, "In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Benincasa hispida Fruit Extract Against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells: Assessment of Apoptosis and Intracellular ROS", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 141-147, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26930095237, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26930095237