Exploring the Antioxidant Potential of L.: Mitigating Chemotherapeutic Effects of Doxorubicin on Tumor Cells

Several plants of the genus L. have shown antibacterial, fungicidal, and antiproliferative activity, among other types of activities; however, most species of the genus have not been investigated. L. is native to tropical America and Africa, and although it has been reported as medicinal in the literature, it has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the phytochemical screening, isolation, and identification of compounds and the determination of the antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of L. and its partitions were carried out. Ethyl acetate and -butanol partitions of the extract present high antioxidant activity according to the Antioxidant Activity Index. Due to their activity, these partitions were tested on RKO cells as a representative model, both individually and in combination with Doxorubicin. It was found that the partitions significantly reduced the effect of Doxorubicin, as well as the expression of proteins involved in DNA damage and cell death. While the reduction of the chemotherapeutic effect of Doxorubicin on tumor cells may not be a desired outcome in therapeutic settings, the findings of the study are valuable in revealing the antioxidant potential of L. and its partitions. This highlights the importance of carefully regulating the application of antioxidants, especially in the context of cancer chemotherapy.