In vitro and in silico evaluation of the anticancer potential of ethanolic seed extract of Bryonia laciniosa against colorectal and hepatocellular cancer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The seed extract of Bryonia laciniosa has strong ethnopharmacological importance, supported by its longstanding use in traditional medicine. It demonstrates notable anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, highlighting its potential as a natural candidate for future cancer-focused therapeutic research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxic activity of ethanolic seed extract from Bryonia laciniosa was examined using established in vitro cell viability-based assays. Computational biology tools, followed by laboratory-level confirmation, were employed to determine the key molecular targets and the cellular signaling networks influenced by the extract.

RESULTS: The seed extract of Bryonia laciniosa demonstrated strong growth-inhibitory effects in both colorectal and liver cancer cell models. A combination of molecular docking and laboratory analyses highlighted AKT-1 and p53 signaling as primary response points influenced by the extract's bioactive compounds. Extract exposure resulted in reduced AKT-1 protein abundance and elevated p53 expression, along with increased programmed cell death and enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species. Collectively, the coordinated inhibition of AKT-1 and activation of p53 signaling appear to be key drivers of the extract-mediated anticancer response.

CONCLUSION: Our findings offer experimental evidence supporting the traditional therapeutic application of this plant extract in cancer care. Through modulation of survival-associated signaling and apoptosis-driven mechanisms, the extract shows potential as a plant-derived therapeutic option for managing colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The observed biological effects underscore its value as a natural lead for future anticancer drug-discovery research. Additional work is needed to purify and characterize the active molecules and to investigate therapeutic performance in living systems using appropriate in vivo models.