Anti-cancer Evaluations of solvent extracts and saponins of Polygonatum verticillatum (L.)

Abstract

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, and angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in tumor growth and progression. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer potential of solvent extracts and saponin fractions of Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) using phytochemical screening and an in vivo anti-angiogenic model. The whole plant was extracted with 80% methanol, followed by sequential fractionation using solvents of increasing polarity. Crude saponins were also isolated using a modified ethanol extraction method. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and saponins in the crude extract. The anti-angiogenic activity of the extracts and fractions was evaluated using the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The chloroform fraction, saponin fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and crude extract exhibited significant inhibition of angiogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner. Among all samples, the saponin fraction showed the highest potency with the lowest IC₅₀ value, while dexamethasone was used as a positive control. The findings of this study suggest that Polygonatum verticillatum possesses notable anti-angiogenic activity, which may be attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly saponins. These results provide scientific evidence supporting the traditional use of the plant and highlight its potential as a promising source of natural anti-cancer agents. Further investigations are required to isolate active constituents and elucidate their underlying mechanisms of action.