Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation

Sevde Nur Biltekin; Hikmet Gülben Güç; Fatma Tosun

Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation

Abstract

This study systematically evaluated the in vitro cytotoxic potential of four plant extracts from the Apiaceae family—Artedia squamata L., Astrantia maxima Pall. subsp. maxima, Heracleum platytaenium Boiss., and Selinum alatum(M.Bieb.) Poir.—against a panel of human carcinoma cell lines (A549, PC3, MCF7, and U87MG), providing novel insights into the dynamics of oncogenic progression through advanced analyses. Notably, this research represents the first comprehensive report on the anti-proliferative activities of these specific extracts against both malignant and non-malignant human cell lines. Our findings, obtained via the MTT assay using colchicine as a positive control, reveal that H. platytaenium and S. alatum are highly potent cytotoxic agents, exhibiting remarkably low IC50 values. Crucially, while the positive control colchicine proved highly toxic to healthy cells (IC50 = 31.27 ± 1.03 µg/mL), all investigated extracts demonstrated an exceptional safety profile, showing no significant cytotoxicity against the non-malignant human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293, IC50 > 100 µg/mL). The high selectivity index of these extracts, evidenced by their robust inhibition of malignant cells coupled with their biocompatibility with normal tissues, underscores their pharmacological significance. Furthermore, the significant inhibitory effects of these potent extracts on the MAPK pathway—a master regulator of carcinogenesis—alongside their modulation of Caspase-3 activity, constitute substantial data newly contributed to the literature. These results identify the studied taxa, particularly H. platytaenium, as promising and safe natural candidates for the discovery of novel anticancer therapeutics, warranting further investigation.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

There is no supporting institution

Project Number

There is no project number.

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical approval

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sevde Nur Biltekin ^*
0000-0003-1896-2729
Türkiye

Hikmet Gülben Güç
0009-0002-8384-7647
Türkiye

Fatma Tosun
0000-0003-2533-5141
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 3, 2026

Submission Date

April 14, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Biltekin, S. N., Güç, H. G., & Tosun, F. (2026). Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(4), 1055-1063. https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC

AMA

1.Biltekin SN, Güç HG, Tosun F. Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(4):1055-1063. https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC

Chicago

Biltekin, Sevde Nur, Hikmet Gülben Güç, and Fatma Tosun. 2026. “Selective Cytotoxicity of Heracleum Platytaenium and Selinum Alatum in PC3 Cells: Involvement of MAPK Inhibition and Caspase-3 Activation”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (4): 1055-63. https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC.

EndNote

Biltekin SN, Güç HG, Tosun F (August 1, 2026) Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 4 1055–1063.

IEEE

[1]S. N. Biltekin, H. G. Güç, and F. Tosun, “Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 1055–1063, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC

ISNAD

Biltekin, Sevde Nur - Güç, Hikmet Gülben - Tosun, Fatma. “Selective Cytotoxicity of Heracleum Platytaenium and Selinum Alatum in PC3 Cells: Involvement of MAPK Inhibition and Caspase-3 Activation”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/4 (August 1, 2026): 1055-1063. https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC.

JAMA

1.Biltekin SN, Güç HG, Tosun F. Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:1055–1063.

MLA

Biltekin, Sevde Nur, et al. “Selective Cytotoxicity of Heracleum Platytaenium and Selinum Alatum in PC3 Cells: Involvement of MAPK Inhibition and Caspase-3 Activation”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 1055-63, https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC.

Vancouver

1.Sevde Nur Biltekin, Hikmet Gülben Güç, Fatma Tosun. Selective cytotoxicity of Heracleum platytaenium and Selinum alatum in PC3 cells: Involvement of MAPK inhibition and caspase-3 activation. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;30(4):1055-63. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA94YA45CC