Anticancer Activity of Allium jesdianum Extract: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Melanoma

Background: Melanoma, which ranks as the deadliest among all skin cancers, is the third most common type of skin cancer. Given the rapidly increasing incidence of this disease, there is a pressing need for new treatments. Allium species are known for their robust antioxidant properties, sulfur content, and numerous phenolic compounds, which have garnered significant attention in the realm of cancer research. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the potential anticancer properties of Allium jesdianum on melanoma cells (A375) and normal human fibroblast cell lines (AGO-1522). Methods: Initially, a hydroalcoholic extract of the plant was prepared, and the total phenolic and flavonoid content was assessed using spectrophotometry. Subsequently, the study examined cell viability, cytotoxic activity, cytochrome c (CYT-C) release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and lipid peroxidation Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of the plant contained 157.6 mg of phenolic compounds and 114.7 mg of flavonoids per gram of dry extract. The plant extracts significantly improved melanoma cell apoptosis (P < 0.001), elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P < 0.01), enhanced ROS production (P < 0.01), and increased CYT-C levels (P < 0.001). Nevertheless, an equivalent amount of the extract had no significant impact on normal fibroblast cells, indicating its safety. Conclusions: The hydroalcoholic extract of A. jesdianum exhibited notable cytotoxic effects on human melanoma cell lines. Nevertheless, further research is warranted to explore the potential of A. jesdianum as a promising anti-cancer drug.