Apoptotic and Antibacterial Activities of Terminalia catappa Ethanolic Extract

Year 2026, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 1 - 9, 21.01.2026

Ilker Kiliccioglu , Gorkem Dulger , Başaran Dülger

https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1774499

Abstract

Prostate cancer remains a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality rates in men due to resistance to conventional treatments. Natural products such as Terminalia catappa have emerged as promising candidates with their antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities. Ethanolic extract of T. catappa leaves were tested against PC-3 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Antiproliferative activity was investigated using the WST-1 assay. Caspase-3, -8, -9, Bcl-2, p53, and survivin expression were investigated by ELISA and Western blot methods. The antibacterial activity of the extract was tested by the well diffusion method. T. catappa extract inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation in a concentration and duration dependent profile, with IC50 values of 49.54 µg/mL (24 h) and 30.41 µg/mL (48 h) in PC-3 cells and 61.53 µg/mL (24 h) and 43.64 µg/mL (48 h) in LNCaP cells. Microscopic analysis revealed apoptotic effects, while HUVECs maintained their viability and morphology. Caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were significantly increased, indicating activation of apoptotic pathways. Western blotting revealed a strong increase in p53 and a decrease in Bcl-2 and survivin. Additionally, the extract was found to exhibit stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-positive strains. These findings highlight the dual anticancer and antibacterial potential of the T. catappa ethanol extract.

Keywords

Terminalia catappa , Prostate cancer , Apoptosis

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve human or animal participants. All procedures followed scientific and ethical principles, and all referenced studies are appropriately cited.

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Thanks

The authors do not wish to acknowledge any individual or institution.

Terminalia catappa Etanolik Ekstresinin Apoptotik ve Antibakteriyel Aktiviteleri

Abstract

Prostat kanseri, konvansiyonel tedavilere direnç ve sistemik toksisite nedeniyle erkeklerde morbidite ve mortalitenin önde gelen nedeni olmaya devam etmektedir. Terminalia catappa gibi bitkilerden sağlanan doğal ürünler, antiproliferatif ve proapoptotik aktiviteleriyle umut vadeden adaylar olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. T. catappa yapraklarının etanol ekstresi, androjen bağımsız PC-3 ve androjen bağımlı LNCaP prostat kanseri hücrelerine karşı test edilmiştir. HUVEC hücreleri sağlıklı kontrol hücre hatları olarak kullanıldı. Antiproliferatif aktivite WST-1 testi kullanılarak araştırılırken, morfolojik değişiklikler mikroskobik olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Kaspaz-3, -8, -9, Bcl-2, p53 ve survivin ekspresyonu ELISA ve Western blot yöntemleriyle araştırılmıştır. Ekstrenin antibakteriyel aktivitesi, kuyu difüzyon yöntemi kullanılarak Gram pozitif ve Gram negatif suşlara karşı test edilmiştir. T. catappa özütü, PC-3 hücrelerinde 49,54 µg/mL (24 saat) ve 30,41 µg/mL (48 saat) ve LNCaP hücrelerinde 61,53 µg/mL (24 saat) ve 43,64 µg/mL (48 saat) IC50 değerleriyle, prostat kanseri hücrelerinin çoğalmasını doz ve zamana bağlı olarak inhibe etti. Mikroskobik analiz, hücre büzülmesi, membran kabarcıklanması ve ayrılması gibi apoptotik özellikleri ortaya koyarken, HUVEC'ler canlılıklarını ve morfolojilerini korudu. Kaspaz-3, -8 ve -9 aktiviteleri önemli ölçüde artmış olup, hem içsel hem de dışsal apoptotik yolların aktivasyonunu göstermektedir. Western blot sonuçları, p53'te güçlü bir artış ve Bcl-2 ve survivin'de bir azalma olduğunu ortaya koydu. Ek olarak, özütün Gram pozitif suşlara karşı daha etkili geniş spektrumlu antibakteriyel aktivite gösterdiği bulunmuştur. Bu bulgular, T. catappa etanol özütünün hem antikanser hem de antibakteriyel potansiyelini vurgulamaktadır. Prostat kanseri hücrelerinde apoptozu güçlü bir şekilde uyarması, tamamlayıcı bir tedavi adayı olarak umut vericidir.

Keywords

Terminalia catappa , Prostat Kanseri , Apoptozis

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