Synergistic anti-cancer activity of Artemisia vulgaris L. aqueous extract with cisplatin against A549 lung cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND: The increasing resistance and adverse effects associated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin have prompted the investigation of natural compounds that act synergistically with chemotherapy to combat cancer. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of an aqueous extract of Artemisia vulgaris L. in conjunction with cisplatin on A549 human lung cancer cells. The research analyzes the phytochemical composition of the extract and its potential mechanisms of action by assessing apoptosis and autophagy. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated a synergistic interaction between A. vulgaris and cisplatin. We utilized molecular docking to examine the interactions of the extract components with critical proteins involved in these processes. METHODS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to characterize the phytochemicals in A. vulgaris. A549 cells were subjected to various concentrations of A. vulgaris L. aqueous extract, cisplatin, and their combination. We utilized the SRB assay to assess cell viability and the combination index (CI) analysis to evaluate the synergistic interaction between the two compounds. Molecular docking was performed for selected compounds against apoptotic and autophagic target proteins. RESULTS: The combination treatment showed a greater cytotoxic effect than either treatment alone, suggesting a synergistic improvement of anticancer action through the induction of both apoptosis and autophagy. This was manifested by a significant decrease in the IC50 values of A. vulgaris and cisplatin to 13.32 ± 1.66 μg/mL and 0.44 ± 0.02 μM, respectively, with a combination index (CI) of 0.7. LC-MS/MS profiling showed a wide array of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, and phenolic acids many of which have been found to possess anticancer effects. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that A. vulgaris L. may potentiate the anticancer effect of cisplatin, potentially allowing dose reduction and minimizing side effects.