Apoptosis-inducing effects of Wrightia tinctoria leaf extract on hacat keratinocytes and a431 skin carcinoma cells

The ethanolic leaf extract of Wrightia tinctoria was investigated for its potential anti-psoriatic and anticancer effects using HaCaT keratinocytes and A431 skin carcinoma cells. Cytotoxicity determined by MTT assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, with IC₅₀ values of 42.5 µg/mL in HaCaT and 78.44 µg/mL in A431 cells. Morphological changes, including shrinkage, blebbing, and detachment, indicated apoptosis as the underlying mechanism of cell death. Apoptotic induction was further confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, which revealed nuclear condensation and chromatin fragmentation, and by PI staining, which showed a significant proportion of early (14.6%) and late (71.5%) apoptotic cells. DNA fragmentation analysis produced the characteristic laddering pattern, supporting apoptosis as the primary cytotoxic pathway. These observations suggest that the phytoconstituents present in W. tinctoria are capable of modulating cellular proliferation and inducing apoptosis in both keratinocytes and carcinoma cells. The findings support the therapeutic relevance of W. tinctoria as a natural source of bioactive compounds, with potential applications in the management of psoriasis and skin cancer. Overall, this study highlights the value of W. tinctoria as a promising candidate for apoptosis-mediated chemoprevention and therapy.