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Published:
Jul 11, 2026DOI:
10.4314/tjpr.v25i6.1Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Anticancer screening and GC-MS metabolite profiling of endemic southwest Florida flora: Evaluating the therapeutic potential of three tropical species against Glioblastoma Multiforme
Abstract
Purpose: To examine the cytotoxic effects of crude polar extracts from Byrsonima lucida, Pinus elliottii, and Ulmus alata against LN-229 glioblastoma cells.
Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, while differential gene and protein expression of apoptosis-related markers were assessed by RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Phytochemical constituents were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.
Results: Byrsonima lucida demonstrated the strongest effects, reducing cell viability to 19 % at 48 h, with 4-fold upregulation of CASP3 and 278-fold increase in BAX expression. Pinus elliottii suppressed CASP3 by 23-fold despite inducing cytotoxicity mediated by 32-fold BAX upregulation, suggesting caspase-independent death mechanisms. ELISA confirmed 33 % CASP3 upregulation in B. lucida-treated cells and 58 % suppression in P. elliottii-treated cells. Ulmus alata showed minimal cytotoxicity against LN-229 cells but accelerated wound closure in healthy human astrocytes. GC-MS identified phytochemical profiles distinct to each species, including aziridine derivatives in B. lucida, and topotecan-like compounds in U. alata.
Conclusion: B. lucida and P. elliottii extracts induce glioblastoma cell death through distinct mechanisms, caspase-dependent apoptosis and caspase-independent pathways, respectively, while U. alata shows potential for tissue repair applications.
