Vanillic acid exhibits potent antiproliferative and free radical scavenging effects under in vitro conditions

Cells endure oxidative stress as a result of an imbalance between the status of body’s reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. Higher production of ROS or weak antioxidant defense mechanism in the cell could lead to various pathological disorders, including carcinogenesis. The present study investigated the in vitro free radical scavenging activity and antiproliferative efficacy of vanillic acid using a spectrum of radical scavenging assays and cytotoxic assays, respectively. Vanillic acid’s antioxidant ability was investigated using in vitro antioxidant assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging assays. The current study observed an excellent free radical scavenging capacity of vanillic acid, which was comparable to that of ascorbic acid (reference drug). The antiproliferative effect of vanillic acid was assessed in mammary cancer cells (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 [MCF-7]) by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, ROS generation potential, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, and by evaluating its apoptotic induction potential. The cell viability of breast cancer cells was drastically decreased by vanillic acid, and its antiproliferative potential in MCF-7 cells could be due to its ability to induce excessive generation of ROS and its apoptotic induction potential. The present investigation thus explores antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of vanillic acid under in vitro conditions.