In vitro evaluation of anticancer activity of Oxalis corniculata L., by harnessing exosome for effective drug delivery against hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer is one of the serious diseases of concern affecting humanity. Among them, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or primary hepatic cancer, is one of the leading causes of cancer associated fatalities globally. Treatment recommendations for HCC include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical tumor excision; however, the risk of recurrence of hepatomas or developing new hepatomas remains very significant. The widespread use of medicinal plants can be attributed to their numerous benefits, including their cost-effectiveness, lower risk of side effects, higher safety margins, and long-lasting effects. One such plant that has been utilized since ancient times to prevent and treat various ailments and holds significant ethnomedicinal value is Oxalis corniculata. The herb has been used to cure several diseases, including fever, diarrhea, dysentery, skin disorders, and digestive problems. The present investigation attempts to isolate and assess the anticancer activity of the total polyphenols of Oxalis corniculata Linn., both independently and in combination with exosome-mediated drug delivery. The results of the investigations demonstrated that the polyphenols exert cytotoxic activity against cancerous cells, such as HuH7 cell lines through the increased apoptotic gene expression and that the exosomes can increase as well as improve the delivery and efficacy of the polyphenols, as revealed from the in vitro cytotoxicity investigations using MTT test and apoptotic investigations. Therefore, it can be concluded that the polyphenols of Oxalis corniculata L. are bioactive against cancerous cells and that the use of advanced biotechnological techniques with natural products can uncover novel therapeutics in cancer therapy.