Phytochemical characterization of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum seeds and its anticancer efficacy against human oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of oral and pharyngeal malignancies and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The search for safer, plant-derived anticancer agents has highlighted the therapeutic potential of Cuminum cyminum (cumin), a medicinal spice rich in bioactive phytochemicals. AIM: This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, , cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing activities of the methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum (MECC) against human oral carcinoma cell lines (KB, KB-31 and KB-CHR.8.5) and normal Vero cells. Additionally, the antibacterial potential of MECC was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytochemical profiling was performed using HPLC. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT and Trypan Blue assays following treatment with MECC (500-1000 μg/mL). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay, while antibacterial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Apoptosis was assessed using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) and Hoechst 33342 staining. RESULTS: HPLC analysis revealed multiple phytochemical constituents, with a major peak at 9.90 min. MECC exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity, with predicted IC₅₀ values of approximately 600 μg/mL (KB), 720 μg/mL (KB-31), 1318 μg/mL (KB-CHR.8.5) and 3250 μg/mL (Vero), yielding tumor selectivity indices of 5.42, 4.51 and 2.47, respectively. MECC also demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ ≈ 354 μg/mL) and induced concentration-dependent apoptosis, characterized by chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. No significant antibacterial activity was observed against either of the evaluated bacterial strain. CONCLUSION: MECC exhibited selective cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in oral cancer cells with minimal toxicity toward normal Vero cells, supporting its potential as a promising natural chemopreventive and an adjunct chemotherapeutic candidate for oral cancer. Further mechanistic and in vivo studies are warranted.