From toxic ornamental to therapeutic prospect: Phytochemical profile and cytotoxic evaluation of n-hexane extract from Iraqi Senecio rowleyanus

Senecio rowleyanus H. Jacobsen plant belongs to Asteraceae family that contain over 1600 genera and approximately 2500 species that have important pharmacological roles in human life. This study assesses the n-hexane extract of Senecio rowleyanus, introduces a new CombiFlash-based method for phytochemical isolation and evaluates its pharmacological effect against breast cancer cells. The whole plant was extracted using maceration in n-hexane and analyzed by Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Phytosterols were isolated using CombiFlash column chromatography, yielding several fractions; only fraction B matched lupeol, confirmed by HPLC and FT-IR. Cytotoxicity of the extract was evaluated using the MTT assay on AMJ13 breast cancer cells treated with concentrations (1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5 and 31.75 µg/mL) for 72 hrs, with doxorubicin as a control. Cell viability was then assessed. GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of multiple bioactive phytosterols, which revealed a high content of β- and γ-sitosterol (17 %), spathulenol (13 %) and α-amyrin (9 %). with lupeol identified in a specific purified fraction. The n-hexane extract exhibited a cytotoxic effect on AMJ13 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 125.3 μg/mL, showing a concentration- and time-dependent reduction in cell viability. The observed cytotoxicity was notable when compared to the standard drug, doxorubicin. Senecio rowleyanus cultivated in Iraq demonstrates potent anticancer potential, with lupeol and other phytosterols exhibiting significant cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. These findings support its promise as a natural candidate for pharmaceutical development, further mechanistic and clinical investigations is requiring.