Cissus quadrangularis Phytosomes’ Bioactivity Assessment: Cytotoxic, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties

Aim: Cissus quadrangularis is a widely used medicinal plant known for its therapeutic properties, including bone repair and anti-inflammatory effects. Phytosomes, a novel drug delivery system, can enhance the bioavailability of herbal compounds. This study investigates the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Cissus quadrangularis phytosomes and explores their molecular binding interactions. Materials and Methods: Molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of cholesterin with target 1CVU using the Schrödinger software. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging assays. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using protein denaturation and proteinase inhibitory assays. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay on RAW 264.7 cells. Results: Molecular docking revealed a strong binding affinity of cholesterin to the 1CVU target (ΔG = -8.4 kcal/mol). Phytosomes demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, with DPPH inhibition reaching 95.50% at 1000 µg/mL and nitric oxide scavenging achieving 98.59% inhibition. Anti-inflammatory assays showed a dose-dependent inhibition of protein denaturation (up to 96.3%) and proteinase inhibition (96.3%) at 1000 µg/mL. The cytotoxicity assay indicated a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability, suggesting potential therapeutic applications. Conclusion: The results highlight Cissus quadrangularis phytosomes as effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents with significant cytotoxic potential. Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm these results.