Anticancer Activity of Garcinia xanthochymus Crude Extracts Against Human Cancer Cells: In Vitro Evaluation in MDA-MB-231, Huh-7, A549, and SW480 Cell Lines

Garcinia xanthochymus is a medicinal plant known for its rich content of xanthones and flavonoids, and has gained attention for its potential therapeutic properties, including anticancer effects. This study evaluated the in vitro anticancer activity of crude extract from G. xanthochymus against 4 human cancer cell lines: MDA-MB-231 (breast), Huh-7 (liver), A549 (lung), and SW480 (colon). Extracts from barks, leaves, and twigs were prepared by maceration using 4 different organic solvents: hexanes, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol. The metabolite profiles of the extracts were characterized using UHPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry. The effects of the extracts on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and colony-forming capability were assessed using MTT, annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and colony formation assays, respectively. The results showed that the different extracts exhibited distinct cytotoxicity profiles. Among all tested extracts, the hexane extract (GXBH) exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values of 66.9 ± 5.1 µg/mL (MDA-MB-231), 64.7 ± 14.9 µg/mL (Huh-7), 80.0 ± 11.9 µg/mL (A549), and 65.4 ± 7.8 µg/mL (SW480). In addition, GXBH significantly induced apoptosis and inhibited the colony-forming capability in all 4 cell lines. These findings highlight the potential of G. xanthochymus as a promising natural candidate for the development of alternative anticancer therapies. HIGHLIGHTS Hexane extract showed strongest cytotoxicity in four cancer cell lines. xanthochymus extract induced apoptosis in four cancer cell types. Colony formation was significantly reduced by hexane extract. UHPLC-QTOF profiled metabolites from bark, leaf, and twig extracts. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT