Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Potential of Chloroxylon swietenia DC. Stem Extracts Against Bladder Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Chloroxylon swietenia DC. is traditionally used in herbal medicine and is known to contain various secondary metabolites with pharmacological activities. This study includes qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals, antioxidant and anticancer potential of C. swietenia stem extracts. Stem extracts were prepared with chloroform, acetone, methanol and water. Phytochemical analysis revealed secondary metabolites, extracts were further analysed for total phenolic and flavonoid content, and bioactive compounds were identified by GC–MS analysis. Antioxidant activity was tested using total antioxidant capacity, DPPH and FRAP assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed on T24 cells using MTT. Methanol extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, phenolics, saponins and tannins; acetone extract revealed the same presence of same secondary metabolites except saponins, leaving methanol extract with the highest diversity. Acetone had higher TPC (90.876 ± 0.964 mgGAE/g), whereas methanol had higher TFC (122.115 ± 0.962 mgQE/g). GC–MS identified the highest compounds in acetone. The highest total antioxidant capacity was 1.33 ± 0.02 (acetone). The methanol extract exhibited significant DPPH-scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ of 119.080 μg/mL. Ferric reducing power was highest for methanol (0.75 ± 0.01). Acetone was most cytotoxic to T24 cells (IC₅₀ 17.131 μg/mL), followed by chloroform, aqueous and methanol. This study finds the presence of bioactive compounds in C. swietenia stem, which are potential natural sources with antioxidant and anticancer properties for further research.