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In-Silico and In-Vitro Evaluation of the Anti-cancer Potential of Madhumega Chooranam Extract Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Corresponding Author(s) : B. Edwin Jose
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 14 No. 4 (2026): 2026 Volume 14-Issue 4
Abstract
Background: Madhumega Chooranam is a traditional Siddha polyherbal formulation primarily used in the management of diabetes mellitus. Its phytochemical complexity provides a rationale for exploratory evaluation of biological activities beyond its traditional indication. This study investigated the preliminary cytotoxic effect of Madhumega Chooranam extract (MCE) against A549 human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and examined the predicted interaction of quercetin with fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4).
Methods: The powdered formulation was extracted with 70% methanol. Preliminary phytochemical tests and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were used to characterize the extract. Molecular docking of quercetin against FGFR4 (PDB ID: 5JKG) was performed using CB-Dock2, with fisogatinib included as a comparator. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay over 10–100 µg/mL, and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining was used to observe apoptosis-associated cellular changes.
Results: TLC findings were reported as consistent with tannins, flavonoids and glycosides, with a spot assigned to quercetin at an Rf value of 0.48. Quercetin produced a docking score of −7.9, compared with −8.4 for fisogatinib. MCE reduced A549 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, from 100% in the vehicle control to 31% at 100 µg/mL. The reported IC50 was 65.55 ± 0.05 µg/mL. AO/EtBr staining at 90 µg/mL showed cellular changes described as early apoptosis, late apoptosis and nuclear fragmentation.
Conclusion: The results provide preliminary in-vitro evidence of concentration-dependent cytotoxicity and computational evidence of a possible quercetin–FGFR4 interaction. The findings do not establish clinical efficacy, tumour selectivity or a confirmed molecular mechanism. Further validation using appropriate normal-cell controls, replicated experiments, quantitative apoptosis assays and in-vivo studies is required.