LCMS-Guided Discovery of an Anticancer Lead from<i> Chrozophora rottleri</i>

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women, accounting for over 600,000 new cases and 350,000 fatalities each year. The burden is highest in low-and middle-income countries, including those in Africa, South Asia, Central America, and India. Risk factors encompass co-infections, genetic markers, and lifestyle factors. While conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective, they often cause significant side effects. Plant-based medicines offer promising alternatives. This study was carried out by employing Orbitrap High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (OHR-LCMS) and molecular docking analysis of Chrozophora rottleri fruit ethanol extract and anticancer potential of Lead Compound on HeLa cervical cancer cells. Phytochemical investigation identified several bioactive compounds, including apigetrin, apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, genistein, and glycitein through OHR-LCMS. Molecular interactions revealed that Genistein had the highest binding affinity for the BCL-2 protein, followed by apigetrin and other flavonoids. Genistein showed substantial cytotoxicity against HeLa cells in the MTT assay (IC50 value: 141.6 ± 0.19 μg/mL). Genistein-treated cells exhibited Sphase arrest (42.78%) and increased early apoptosis (47.65%) with minimal necrosis (0.01%), reducing overall cell viability. This research indicates the anticancer potential of Chrozophora rottleri, specifically genistein, which disrupts the cell cycle and promotes apoptosis in HeLa cells. The research highlights the potential of Chrozophora rottleri as a source of plant-based chemicals for cancer treatment. While the results aligh with prior research on genistein's anticancer properties, more in vivo investigations and clinical trials are necessary to verify these findings.