Research Article

Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron

Volume: 12 Number: 2 January 17, 2026
EN TR

Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron

Abstract

Medicinal plants synthesize many types of biologically active compounds, and these molecules play an important role in pharmacy and provide the raw material for some drugs. Although some plants are used because they are easily accessible at very low costs and are thought to have fewer side effects than synthetic products, it is also frequently reported that high doses of these plants can have toxic side effects rather than benefits. In this study, the cytotoxic effects of low (25 μg/mL), medium (50 μg/mL), and high doses (100 μg/mL) of methanol extracts from four different medicinal plants commonly used by the public, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), bitter melon (Ecballium elaterium L.), and wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) with and without boric acid co-treatment for 24 hours on human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were investigated using a cell viability assay and light microscopy techniques. It has been determined that adding medium doses of boric acid (500  to these plant extracts decreased cytotoxicity in HUVEC and increased cell viability. This study demonstrates the potential of adding boric acid to plant extracts that are highly toxic or have adverse side effects, in order to mitigate these effects.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research was supported by the Kafkas University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit.

Project Number

2022-FM-17, Year: 2022.

Ethical Statement

In our study, cell lines were used under in vitro conditions. No clinical or experimental human or animal subjects were used.

Thanks

We would like to thank the Life Sciences and Technologies Application and Research Center of Kafkas University for providing basic cell culture equipment. We would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk Karahan for authentication of collected plants.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 17, 2026

Submission Date

September 26, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 2

APA
Demirel, R., Ardahanlı, H., İçen, M., Ermutlu, C. Ş., & Özden, Ö. (2026). Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron. Caucasian Journal of Science, 12(2), 85-99. https://doi.org/10.48138/cjo.1790491
AMA
1.Demirel R, Ardahanlı H, İçen M, Ermutlu CŞ, Özden Ö. Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron. Caucasian J. Sci. 2026;12(2):85-99. doi:10.48138/cjo.1790491
Chicago
Demirel, Ramazan, Hanife Ardahanlı, Meryem İçen, Celal Şahin Ermutlu, and Özkan Özden. 2026. “Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined With and Without Boron”. Caucasian Journal of Science 12 (2): 85-99. https://doi.org/10.48138/cjo.1790491.
EndNote
Demirel R, Ardahanlı H, İçen M, Ermutlu CŞ, Özden Ö (January 1, 2026) Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron. Caucasian Journal of Science 12 2 85–99.
IEEE
[1]R. Demirel, H. Ardahanlı, M. İçen, C. Ş. Ermutlu, and Ö. Özden, “Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron”, Caucasian J. Sci., vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 85–99, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.48138/cjo.1790491.
ISNAD
Demirel, Ramazan - Ardahanlı, Hanife - İçen, Meryem - Ermutlu, Celal Şahin - Özden, Özkan. “Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined With and Without Boron”. Caucasian Journal of Science 12/2 (January 1, 2026): 85-99. https://doi.org/10.48138/cjo.1790491.
JAMA
1.Demirel R, Ardahanlı H, İçen M, Ermutlu CŞ, Özden Ö. Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron. Caucasian J. Sci. 2026;12:85–99.
MLA
Demirel, Ramazan, et al. “Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined With and Without Boron”. Caucasian Journal of Science, vol. 12, no. 2, Jan. 2026, pp. 85-99, doi:10.48138/cjo.1790491.
Vancouver
1.Ramazan Demirel, Hanife Ardahanlı, Meryem İçen, Celal Şahin Ermutlu, Özkan Özden. Cytotoxicity in HUVEC Cells Exposed to Methanol Extracts of Four Medicinal Plants Combined with and without Boron. Caucasian J. Sci. 2026 Jan. 1;12(2):85-99. doi:10.48138/cjo.1790491

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