Phytochemical Profiling and Anticancer Evaluation of a Polyherbal Extraction reaction Caco-2 Cell Line Using the MTT Assay

The increasing prevalence of cancer and the limitations of conventional therapies have accelerated the search for safer, cost-effective, and naturally derived anticancer agents. Polyherbal formulations, prepared by combining bioactive medicinal plants, offer synergistic therapeutic potential with reduced toxicity and enhanced pharmacological activity. The present study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of a polyherbal decoction prepared from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis petals, Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaves, and Carica papaya leaves. These plants were selected based on their traditional medicinal importance and reported anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. The powders of each plant material were subjected to decoction extraction using distilled water as solvent to obtain a concentrated aqueous extract.The extract was evaluated for its physicochemical properties, including total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, and moisture content, ensuring purity and quality. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, carbohydrates, and glycosides, which are known to contribute to anticancer activity. The polyherbal extract was then tested for its cytotoxic potential using the Caco-2  cancer cell line through the MTT assay. This colorimetric test measures cell viability based on mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. The results demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, indicating strong cytotoxic and growth-inhibitory effects of the extract against cancer cells.The findings suggest that the formulated polyherbal decoction possesses promising anticancer potential, possibly due to synergistic interactions of phytoconstituents from Hibiscus, Neem, and Papaya. This study supports the potential use of polyherbal extracts as natural therapeutic agents in cancer management and highlights the importance of integrating traditional herbal knowledge with modern cytotoxicity assays for drug discovery.