1PhD Scholar, School of Pharmacy, RK University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
ORCID ID: 0009-0007-4844-0880
Email: csaha320@rku.ac.in
2Director, School of Pharmacy, RK University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4877-7201
Email: pravin.tirgar@rku.ac.in
The exploration of plant-derived bioactive compounds as anticancer agents has gained significant attention due to their diverse mechanisms of action and reduced toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapeutics. In this study, the cytotoxic potential of five phytoconstituents—Quercetin, Sulphoraphane, Scopoletin, Icariin, and Inua—was systematically evaluated against cervical (SiHa) and ovarian (HeLa) cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Cells were seeded, treated with graded concentrations of each compound, and incubated under controlled conditions. Methotrexate served as a positive control, while untreated cells acted as the negative control. Results revealed a clear dose-dependent decline in cell viability across all compounds. At lower concentrations, partial viability was retained, but progressive increases led to marked reductions in metabolic activity. At higher doses, each compound induced pronounced cytotoxicity, with viability levels approaching those of methotrexate. Comparative analysis confirmed that all phytoconstituents produced a highly significant increase in non-viable cells relative to untreated controls, validating their ability to disrupt cancer cell survival. Minor potency variations were observed, yet all compounds consistently demonstrated robust anticancer activity. These findings underscore the therapeutic promise of plant-derived phytoconstituents, supporting their potential as natural alternatives to standard chemotherapeutics and providing a foundation for further mechanistic and preclinical investigations.
Keywords: Phytoconstituents, Cytotoxicity, Cell fate, Cervical cancer, Ovarian cancer, MTT assay, Quercetin, Sulphoraphane etc.
How to cite this article: Saha C, Tirgar P. Systematic analysis of economical phytoconstituent interventions governing cell fate in cervical cancer. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026; 16(8s): 457-489; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.8s.60
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: Nil.