Phyto therapeutic potential of Andrographis paniculata and Catharanthus roseus extract against colorectal cancer HCT-116 cell line
Keywords:
colorectal cancer, Andrographis paniculata, Catharanthus roseus, HCT-116, cytotoxicity, synergism
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with over 1.9 million new cases and 935,000 deaths reported in 2020. Despite therapeutic advances, recurrence, drug resistance, and systemic toxicity remain major challenges. Natural products with
antioxidant and cytotoxic activity are increasingly investigated as complementary therapies. Andrographis paniculata (Sambiloto), rich in andrographolide, exerts anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting migration and invasion, and modulating PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signalling pathway. Catharanthus roseus (Tapak
Dara) produces vinca alkaloids, including vincristine and vinblastine, which inhibit microtubule polymerization and are widely used in chemotherapy. Combining these extracts may enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity through synergistic interactions. This in vitro study assessed the cytotoxic and synergistic effects
of A. paniculata extract (APE) and C. roseus extract (CRE) on HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. Extracts were prepared by ethanol maceration, and cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay at concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 μg/mL. IC₅₀ values were calculated using linear regression, and the combination index
(CI) was determined at 1, 1/2 and 1/4 IC₅₀ to evaluate synergism. APE and CRE exhibited comparable cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 90 μg/mL and 89.5 μg/mL, respectively. The combination treatment revealed synergistic effects (CI <1) at multiple ratios, particularly at 1/4 IC₅₀ (CI = 0.58), demonstrating enhanced
cytotoxicity at reduced concentrations. Both APE and CRE demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects against HCT-116 cells. Their combination produced synergistic interactions, suggesting potential as complementary phytotherapeutic agents for CRC with the benefits of dose reduction and minimized toxicity. Further in vivo and mechanistic studies are warranted.
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(8) Effendi, T., et al. (2023). Synergistic anticancer effects of natural product combinations: A review of mechanisms and clinical applications. Phytomedicine, 115, 154842.
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(13) Ibrahim,S.,Riwanto,I.,Suharti,C.,Putra,A.,Budijitno,S.,Prajoko,Y. W. Unlocking the Potential: Integrative Effects of 5-Fluorouracil and Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Colorectal Cancer Stem Cell Regulation. Journal of Medicinal and Chemical Sciences, 2024; 7(11): 1547-1557. doi: 10.26655/JMCHEMSCI.2024.11.12
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(15) Khan, M. A., et al. (2022). Bioactive compounds from Catharanthus roseus with potential anticancer activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 284, 114744.
(16) Li, B., et al. (2022). KRAS G12C inhibitors in colorectal cancer: Current status and future directions. Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 15(1), 136.
(17) Li X, Yuan W, Wu J, Zhen J, Sun Q, Yu M. Andrographolide, a natural anti-inflammatory agent: An Update. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Sep 27;13:920435. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.920435. PMID: 36238575; PMCID: PMC9551308.
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(23) Sadikin, N. A. N., Nazar, M. A., & Ibrahim, S. (2025). Effect of Typhonium flagelliforme Extract on the Viability of Colorectal Cancer Cells HCT-116. International Journal of Cell and Biomedical Science, 3(7), 181-188. https://doi.org/10.59278/cbs.v3i7.46
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(27) Teng Z, Sun X, Guo Y, Zhang M, Liu Y, Xu M. Curcumae longae Rhizoma (Jianghuang) extract reverses the 5-fluorouracil resistance in colorectal cancer cells via TLR4/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2022;46(9):101976. doi:10.1016/j.clinre.2022.101976.
(28) Wijaya, C. H., et al. (2025). Development and evaluation of stable and bioavailable formulations of combined natural products for colorectal cancer therapy. Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 15(2), 456-468.
(29) Wong, W. Y., et al. (2022). Enhanced bioavailability of andrographolide using nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 17, 2345-2360.
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(31) Yash Srivastav, Aayush Singh Chauhan, Abdul Hameed, Catharanthus Roseus (Vinca Rosea), Taxonomy, Phytochemicals and Pharmacological (Anti-Cancer) properties: A comprehensive overview, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2024, Vol 2, Issue 10, 236-253. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13894530
(32) Yip HYK, Papa A. Signaling Pathways in Cancer: Therapeutic Targets, Combinatorial Treatments, and New Developments. Cells. 2021 Mar 16;10(3):659. doi: 10.3390/cells10030659. PMID: 33809714; PMCID: PMC8002322.
(33) Zhang, X., et al. (2023). Andrographolide inhibits angiogenesis and metastasis in colorectal cancer by targeting the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway. Angiogenesis, 26(1), 123-135.
(34) Fithrotunnisa, Q., Arsianti, A., Kurniawan, G., Qorina, F., Tejaputri, N. A., & Azizah, N. N. (2020). In vitro cytotoxicity of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn extracts on A549 lung cancer cell line. Pharmacognosy Journal, 12(1), 14–19. https://www.phcogj.com/article/1161
(35) Artanti, A. N., Prihapsara, F., & Susanto, R. K. (2022). Cytotoxic effects of parijoto (Medinilla speciosa Reinw. ex. Bl.) methanol extract combined with cisplatin on WiDr colon cancer cells through apoptosis induction. Indonesian Journal of Biotechnology, 27(2), 99–110. https://doi.org/10.22146/ijbiotech.63766
Published
2025-10-14
How to Cite
1.
Rifai FNP, Hidayah N, Prabowo A, Pradani LN. Phyto therapeutic potential of Andrographis paniculata and Catharanthus roseus extract against colorectal cancer HCT-116 cell line. IJPTher [Internet]. 2025Oct.14 [cited 2025Dec.2];6(3):116-2. Available from: https://journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/IJPTher/article/view/24709
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