Antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of Artemisia annua extracts: in vitro evaluation on normal and tumor cell lines

Abstract

Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) is a medicinal plant known for its rich content of bioactive compounds, including artemisinin and polyphenols with potential therapeutic applications. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative effects of A. annua extracts obtained using different solvents and extraction methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the DPPH radical scavenging method, with IC₅₀ values calculated from dose– response curves. Extracts obtained from methanol showed stronger antioxidant activity compared to ethanol, and ultrasonication significantly enhanced extraction efficiency compared to shaking. The lowest IC₅₀ value (341.98 μg/ml) was recorded for the methanolic extract obtained by ultrasonication, indicating the highest radical scavenging activity. The biological effects of the extracts were further evaluated in vitro on normal human fibroblast cells (HdFa) and two tumor cell lines (Caco2 – colorectal adenocarcinoma, and MCF-7 – breast adenocarcinoma). Extracts maintained high proliferation rates in normal fibroblasts, suggesting low cytotoxicity, while significantly inhibiting proliferation in Caco2 and MCF-7 tumor cells. Antiproliferative effects increased with extract concentration and incubation time, with proliferation rates ranging between 65–85% compared to untreated controls. These findings demonstrate that A. annua extracts possess strong antioxidant activity and selective antiproliferative potential, supporting their role as promising natural candidates for complementary approaches in cancer prevention and therapy.