In vitro antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anticancer potential of Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. dried leaf and stem extracts on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Focus on traditional medicinal plants for their potential use in cancer therapy has increased. Imbalance between production of free radicals and reactive metabolites is a problem in cancer. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, morphological effects and anticancer properties of the leaf and stem extracts of Dichroitic cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn., commonly known as Sickle bush on HEK-293 human embryonic kidney and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell to support their potential use in cancer treatment. Leaves and small-stems were dried and extracted with methanol, acetone, hot-water, and ethanol. Free-radical scavenging activity was assessed using 2,2ʼ-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Cytotoxicity and anticancer potential of the four extracts were evaluated using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. Morphological analysis was done on the various concentrations of the 4 extracts and analyzed using light microscopy. Methanol, ethanol and water extracts had ABTS radical scavenging ability with IC 50 of 0.17±0.08; 42±6 and 67±4 μg/mL, respectively. The results showed that all four extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity towards HEK-293 kidney cells, as their LC50 values were greater than 150 μg/mL. Methanol extract changed morphological structure of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells with all the concentrations (20-200 μg/mL) similar to doxorubicin, positive control and toxic at 50 μg/mL, while the ethanol extract only changed morphology of the cancer cells from the 100 μg/mL concentrations. Acetone and hot-water extracts did not induce any morphological changes on the cell structures. Study demonstrated that methanol extracted compounds with potential high radical-scavenging ability and anticancer effects. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany