Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activities and the Phytochemical Profile of Euphorbia indivisa (Engelm) Tidestr
4 affiliations
- 1Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, IICBA, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
- 2Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Carretera Federal Atlixco-Metepec, Metepec 74360, Puebla, Mexico
- 3Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación (SECIHTI), Mexico City 03940, Mexico
- 4Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, highlighting the need to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this context, several species of the Euphorbiaceae family have demonstrated cytotoxic activity. The present study evaluated the cytotoxic effect of Euphorbia indivisa on three cancer cell lines (Breast cancer, MCF-7; Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PANC-1; Human cervical, SiHa), as well as on a nontumorigenic cell line (Immortalized human keratinocyte, HaCaT). The chemical profile of the species was also determined. The hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) and fractions were obtained by maceration and liquid–liquid partitioning using dichloromethane (DCF), ethyl acetate (EAF), and butanol (BuF). Cell confluence and death were determined by analysis of images from cells stained with Propidium iodide (PI). The apoptotic effect was evaluated by Annexin V/7-Amine-Actinomycin D (AAD) staining and caspase-3/7. Antiproliferative activity was determined by Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) staining. The extract, fractions, and aqueous residue (AR) exhibited cytotoxic activity against the PANC-1 cell line, with EAF showing the highest activity, demonstrating an IC50 of 26.27 µg/mL. In contrast, EAF showed lower cytotoxicity against HaCaT cells. Likewise, EAF inhibited proliferation and induced cell death via apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. β-sitosterol, palmitic acid, and apigenin-8-C-glucoside were isolated from EAF, whereas quercetin and gallic acid were identified in a mixture obtained from this fraction. Therefore, this species could be considered as an important source for cancer therapy.
Related
- Carpobrotus edulis Flower Extract Exerts Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects on A-549 Lung Cancer Cells: Phytochemical Profiling and In Silico EGFR Interaction Screening
- LC-MS/MS-based phytochemical profiling and preliminary in vitro anticancer-related bioactivity of Euphorbia petrophila ethanol extract.
- Structurally diverse triterpenoid alkaloids from Buxus myrica with cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing activities.
- Integrative in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigation with mineral profiling of Combretum indicum: A multi-target therapeutic candidate exhibiting antioxidant, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, analgesic, cytotoxic, and anthelmintic activities
- Enzymatic optimization for enhancing earthworm peptide yields and biological activities on antioxidant, cytotoxic against HT-29 and HepG2 cancer cells, and antimigration.
BibTeX
@article{ramosadame2026evaluation,
title = {{Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activities and the Phytochemical Profile of Euphorbia indivisa (Engelm) Tidestr}},
author = {Mónica I. Ramos-Adame and Paola Maycotte and Fabiola L. Sarmiento-Salinas and Mónica Morales-Aguilar and Alexandre T. Cardoso-Taketa and A. Berenice Aguilar-Guadarrama},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219858},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9858},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activities and the Phytochemical Profile of Euphorbia indivisa (Engelm) Tidestr
AU - Mónica I. Ramos-Adame
AU - Paola Maycotte
AU - Fabiola L. Sarmiento-Salinas
AU - Mónica Morales-Aguilar
AU - Alexandre T. Cardoso-Taketa
AU - A. Berenice Aguilar-Guadarrama
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219858
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9858
AB - Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, highlighting the need to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this context, several species of the Euphorbiaceae family have demonstrated cytotoxic activity. The present study evaluated the cytotoxic effect of Euphorbia indivisa on three cancer cell lines (Breast cancer, MCF-7; Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PANC-1; Human cervical, SiHa), as well as on a nontumorigenic cell line (Immortalized human keratinocyte, HaCaT). The chemical profile of the species was also determined. The hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) and fractions were obtained by maceration and liquid–liquid partitioning using dichloromethane (DCF), ethyl acetate (EAF), and butanol (BuF). Cell confluence and death were determined by analysis of images from cells stained with Propidium iodide (PI). The apoptotic effect was evaluated by Annexin V/7-Amine-Actinomycin D (AAD) staining and caspase-3/7. Antiproliferative activity was determined by Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) staining. The extract, fractions, and aqueous residue (AR) exhibited cytotoxic activity against the PANC-1 cell line, with EAF showing the highest activity, demonstrating an IC50 of 26.27 µg/mL. In contrast, EAF showed lower cytotoxicity against HaCaT cells. Likewise, EAF inhibited proliferation and induced cell death via apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. β-sitosterol, palmitic acid, and apigenin-8-C-glucoside were isolated from EAF, whereas quercetin and gallic acid were identified in a mixture obtained from this fraction. Therefore, this species could be considered as an important source for cancer therapy.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -