Cytotoxic, anti-Inflammatory, antioxidant effects of Cassia abbreviata, a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in South Africa

Medicinal plants have been used as remedies to treat diseases afflicting humanity. Among many diseases treated with plant-based remedies in South Africa include various cancers. The use of traditional medicine has been, in recent years, overshadowed by profound investment in promotion of Western medicine, based mainly on a single compendial active ingredient. Herbal medicine, on the other hand, relies on the combined activities of more than one compound, contributed by more than one species, in herbal preparations. The involvement of more than one active compound in herbal concoctions may be effective, as targeted drug resistance may difficult against a collection of phytochemicals in a mixture. Therefore, this study aimed to demonstrate the anticancer, antioxidant and antinflammatory activities of Cassia abbreviata . Plant leaves were extracted with acetone and tested for their cytotoxic effects against various cancers using the MTT assay, for antioxidant activity using radical scavenging method, antinflammatory activity, as well as antimetastatic activity using the scratch assay. Moderate antioxidant activity was observed at all tested concentrations. Cell viability reduced to±60% at 0.5 mg/ml, while displaying a dose-pendent effect on proliferation of MCF7 cells. The extract had antimetastatic effect, inhibiting growth of cells in the wound area. The plant extract reduced ROS activity in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and NO lproduction. The findings of this study strengthen claims of anticancer activities of the plant species. Further studies are underway to ascertain mode of cell death and the pathways through which the plant exerts its biological activities. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany