Abstract

Cancer, the second most prevalent non-communicable disease after ischemic heart disease, presents significant challenges to medical science due to its severe impact on health. Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine, offers a diverse range of potent cancer treatments that can be integrated into conventional oncological therapies. One such Ayurvedic formulation is Bhallataka Rasayana, derived from Semecarpus anacardium Linn. f., which is referenced in traditional Ayurvedic literature for its therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the cytotoxic potential of Bhallataka Rasayana on breast (MCF7) and colon (HT29) cancer cell lines. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of Bhallataka Rasayana was evaluated using the MTT assay across different concentrations to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). The results demonstrated that the extract of Bhallataka Rasayana exhibited significant cytotoxic effects against MCF7 and HT-29 cell lines, with IC50 values of 1.0 µg/mL and 2.0 µg/mL, respectively. These findings are notable when compared to the IC50 values of Doxorubicin, a standard chemotherapeutic agent, which are 0.5 µg/mL for MCF7 and 0.3 µg/mL for HT-29. The study highlights the potential of Bhallataka Rasayana as a complementary therapeutic agent in cancer treatment.

Key words: [Semecarpus] [Breast cancer] [MCF-7 Cells] [Anti-oxidant] [Doxorubucin]