Phytochemical Profiling and Cytotoxicity Evaluation against HeLa Cell Line of the Extract of Artocarpus elasticus Stem Bark

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting Indonesian women and is becoming a major health issue in Indonesia because of its high prevalence. The challenges associated with cancer treatment, such as adverse side effects and drug resistance, highlight the urgent need for new therapeutic options. Artocarpus is known for its diverse secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, which have shown potential anticancer properties. However, no research has examined the potential of Artocarpus elasticus as an anticervical cancer agent and the compounds responsible for anticervical cancer activity. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the A. elasticus stem bark extract against the HeLa cell line and to identify the secondary metabolites of the active extract. The extract was obtained by the ultrasound-assisted extraction method using 96% ethanol. The cytotoxicity of the extract was evaluated by the PrestoBlue assay, and the data were analyzed by the linear regression method using Microsoft Excel 2016. The secondary metabolites contained in the extract were identified using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis. Results showed that the extract exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against the HeLa cell line with an IC50 of 193.30 µg/mL. A total of 13 metabolites were identified in the extract, including prenylated flavonoids, such as artonin E and artocarpin. Thus, the A. elasticus stem bark extract has moderate cytotoxic activity against the HeLa cell line and contains a bioactive compound that has the potential to be further investigated as a candidate anticervical cancer agent.