Shodhana Attenuates Cytotoxicity of Methanolic Extract of Semecarpus anacardium Nuts

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia has a cited purification method (known as Shodhana) to remove the toxic substances from Semecarpus anacardium (SA). The present study is undertaken to evaluate the effect of shodhit (SM) and preshodhit (PSM) methanolic extracts for anticancer activity. HeLa cell lines were used. Cell viability test using trypan blue was performed. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay was done for cytotoxicity. Oxidative stress and Caspase 3 activities were investigated to know the mechanism. Oxidative stress included Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Oxygen Species (TBARS), Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), GSH (Glutathione-SH) and protein carbonyl assay studies. MTT assay revealed maximum inhibition of 73% by PSM and 47% by SM. Cell viability showed living cells of 78% by PSM and 84% by SM. Shodhana significantly reduced the oxidative stress. Caspase 3 activity quantification revealed that there was no significant difference between SM and PSM extracts. Thus, Shodhana helps to decrease cytotoxic activity whereas anticancer activity remains unaltered.