Exploring the anticancer potential of senna makkai

Senna makai (Cassia angustifolia) is a plant native to the Middle East that is traditionally used as an herbal treatment for intestinal worms. A study, published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, examined the plant’s antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activity.

• The researchers obtained aqueous, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate extracts of senna makai.
• The extracts’ antibacterial activity was investigated using the disk diffusion method.
• Their antioxidant activity and anti-cancer activity were assessed through a DPPH radical scavenging assay and an MTT colorimetric assay respectively.
• The Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetric assay were used to evaluate the extracts’ total phenolic and flavonoid contents respectively.
• Analysis revealed the presence of three flavonoids: quercimeritrin, scutellarein, and rutin.
• The extracts were found to inhibit the growth of Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Salmonella typhi.
• Significant antioxidant activity against DPPH radical was noted.
• Anti-cancer activity was shown against MCF-7 (breast cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), and Hep2 (cervical cancer) cell lines while demonstrating low toxicity against human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC).

The researchers concluded that their findings confirmed the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activity of senna makai.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Learn more about natural cancer treatments at Cancer.news.

Journal Reference:

Ahmed SI, Hayat MQ, Tahir M, Mansoor Q, Ismail M, Keck K, Bates RB. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE FLAVONOIDS FROM THE ANTICANCER, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL EXTRACTS OF CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA VAHL. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 11 November 2016;16(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1443-z