Anti cancerous activity of Fagonia

Submitted to: Dr. Muhammad Adil Rasheed

Submitted by: Iqra Shafeeq
Contents
• Introduction of plant (Phytography)
• Morphology
• Temperament and Posology
• Phytochemistry
• Therapeutic activity of Fagonia
• Anti cancerous activity
• References
Introduction
Scientific name: Fagonia
cretica

Common name: Fagonia,

Dhamasa Booti

Plant: Spiny Shrub

Family: Zygophyllacea

Habitat : In dry calculous

rock throughout in Pakistan

Odor and Taste: Unpleasant

and bitter
 Morphology

Plant Parts Characteristics

Leaves Compound leaves

Root Brown green

Stem Spiny , young-green, mature-brown

Flower Small; lavender, purple; solitary sepals; 5 free clawed petals; 10

free stamens inserted on a disc; simple stigma

Seeds Flat rounded and brown in color

 Phytochemistry

Phytochemical investigation of the plant revealed the presence of

alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, coumarins, sterols,
and glycosides in different polar and non-polar extract of plant.
Diosgenin, kryptogenin , lanosterol, beta-sitosterol, harmine, fagogenin
and oleanolic acid are important chemical constituents found in F.
cretica. Fruits are rich in ascorbic acid.
 Temprament of Drug and Posology

The temperament of Fagonia cretica Linn is cold and dry in the first
order. However, there is controversy for its temperament. One school
of thought considers it as warm & dry in first order while other school
confers it as warm in second and dry in third order.
The recommended dose of powder is 3-5gm. The decoction of whole
plant (50-100 ml) is used in treatment of various diseases.
Pharmacological actions
• It is bitter, astringent, antiseptic, tonic,
blood purifier, febrifuge and useful in
dropsy, liver trouble, delirium. It is also
useful in cough, fever, asthma, chronic
fever, chronic bronchitis, stomatitis,
dysentery, skin diseases and as a
cooling agent.
• It is also used as de obstruent, diuretic,
styptic,analgesic, antidote, stomachic,
anti-hepatotoxic, antiemetic,stimulant,
alterative, and anti-carcinogenic.
Pharmacotherapeutics actions
• Effects on Nervous System
• Effects on Blood and Circulatory System
• Effects on Digestive System
• Effects on Musculoskeletal System
• Effects on Reproductive System
• Effects on Endocrine System
• Infections and Infestations
Anti Cancer Activity
Anti Cancer Activity

Cytotoxic potential of
Fagonia and its extracts
against breast, oral, and
lung cancer cell lines using
MTT assay and dual
staining-based
mechanistic analysis.
The phenolic compounds
and flavonoids were the
two main elements of the
F.Arabica methanolic
extract, with 1323 µg
GAE/g of dry weight and
523.07 µg QE/g of dry
weight, respectively.
• F. arabica showed a significant cytotoxic effect against oral cancer KB-3-1, breast cancer MCF-
7, and lung cancer A549 cell lines. Evidence from dual staining microscopy suggests that the
tested drug induced apoptosis in the tested cell lines through a sequential molecular
mechanism, which can be attributed to DNA damage and necrosis. Furthermore, F. arabica has
strong cytotoxic activity, comparable to that of the gold standard medication, cisplatin. Since F.
arabica shows promise as a source of anti carcinogenic medicines, it should be investigated
further to find lead molecules with potential as cancer chemotherapies. Additional research is
needed before the results of this study can be applied to clinical testing.

• F. cretica albumin and silver nanoparticles upregulated the in vitro TRAIL(tumor necrosis factor
(TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand), DR(death receptor)4, DR5 and FADD gene(Fas-
associated protein with death domain) expression at statistically significant levels in Hep-2 cell
lines. Nano-formulations of F. cretica proved therapeutically important biomolecules in vitro.
The hypothesized modulation of extrinsic apoptosis pathway genes through the plant
nanoparticles proved novel medicinal options for effective treatment of cancer and enhancing
the bioavailability of the active plant metabolites.
• Matt Lam et al demonstrate that an aqueous extract of Fagonia cretica can induce cell cycle arrest
and apoptosis via p53-dependent and independent mechanisms, with activation of the DNA
damage response. They also show that FOXO3a is required for activity in the absence of p53.
Their findings indicate that Fagonia cretica aqueous extract contains potential anti-cancer agents
acting either singly or in combination against breast cancer cell proliferation via DNA damage-
induced FOXO3a and p53 expression.
Reference:

Lam M, Carmichael AR, Griffiths HR (2012) An aqueous extract of Fagonia cretica induces DNA
damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells via FOXO3a and p53 expression. PloS
one 7(6): e40152.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384610/
https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/10/2/110
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-27441-6
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874102003653
https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/202307/how-cancer-drugs-work
https://medwinpublishers.com/AABSc/phytological-aspects-of-fagonia-cretica-linn.pdf