In Vitro Exploration of Dark Cytotoxicity of Anthocyanin-Curcumin Combination, A Herbal Photosensitizer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy can be used to treat a variety of lesions noninvasively, including oral cancer. High-power laser therapy has also been used to treat oral squamous cell carcinomas. The two main components of photodynamic treatment are the photosensitizer and the light source. Herbal formulations of photosensitizers are used to mask the disadvantages of other photosensitizers. METHODOLOGY: A methanol-diluted 25 grams of Punica granatum was used to create an anthocyanin extract using the flash evaporation method. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as the first dilution agent for curcumin; later further dilution was done with distilled water. Following that, MCF-7 cells (a cancer cell line) were cultured with the produced samples, and the mono-tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay was used to determine the vitality of the cells. RESULTS: Cell reduction was significantly evident in all three groups, but the most significant cell death was found in the anthocyanin-curcumin group, at 29%. CONCLUSION: The combination of anthocyanin-curcumin has one of the photophysical properties (dark cytotoxicity) and hence can aid as a photosensitizer.