ANTI-CANCEROUS POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS OF QATARI PLANTS AGAINST A549 LUNG CANCER CELLS AND IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS UREP30-002-3-002 (BH - 250026)

Abstract

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with NSCLC accounting for most cases. • In Qatar, incidence is rising, driven by tobacco use and late-stage diagnosis. • Current therapies face major limitations, including drug resistance, recurrence, and adverse side effects. • Herbal medicine offers safer, multi-targeted strategies and remains a vital part of traditional medicine in Qatar. • Qatar's plants provide an untapped source of bioactive compounds with potential anticancer activity, yet their anti-lung cancer potential remains poorly studied. • This study screened several Qatari medicinal plants (Avicennia marina, Phragmites australis, and Typha domingensis) for activity against A549 lung cancer cells. Objectives: • Evaluate the in vitro anticancer activity of selected Qatari plant extracts against A549 human lung cancer cells compared with normal human neonatal fibroblast cells. • Determine the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic and flavonoid content of the tested extracts. • Perform HPLC profiling to examine the chemical composition of the most active extract. Conclusions: • The acetone extract of Avicennia marina (grey mangrove), abundant along Qatar's coasts, showed selective cytotoxicity toward A549 lung cancer cells with minimal effect on normal fibroblasts. • The extract inhibited cell migration, indicating anti-metastatic potential. • The extract exhibited strong antioxidant capacity and high phenolic and flavonoid contents. • HPLC analysis revealed bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties, supporting the extract's observed antioxidant and anticancer effects. • A. marina emerges as a promising local source of potential anti-lung-cancer agents.