Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Açelya Erikçi; Murat Kürşat; Makbule Beyza Şen; İbrahim Seyda Uras; Belma Konuklugil

doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162

Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

Cancer is a major global health challenge, highlighting the need for new chemotherapeutic and adjunctive agents. Turkey’s rich botanical diversity offers a valuable source for exploring bioactive compounds with potential relevance to cancer-related research. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity and preliminary cytotoxic effects of selected plant species as an initial screening approach. Among the species examined, four are members of the Apiaceae family, while the others belong to Lamiaceae, Papaveraceae, and Plantaginaceae families. To assess their effects on cancer cell viability, the plant extracts were tested on three different human cancer cell lines: A549, Caco-2, and HepG2. Zosima absinthifolia, Anarrhinum orientale and Rhabdosciadium microcalycinum showed reduced viability in all tested cancer cell lines. According to the DPPH activity results, it was determined that Diplotaenia cachrydifolia, Ferulago stellata and Salvia pseudeuphratica extracts showed high free radical scavenging activity. This study provides the first preliminary evaluation to investigate the antioxidant activity of A. orientale, as well as to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of R. microcalycinum, F. asepala, and D. cachrydifolia on Caco-2, A549, and HepG2 cell lines.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical Statement

This research did not involve human subjects or animal experimentation. No ethical approval was required.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Plant Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Açelya Erikçi ^*
0000-0001-9149-9510
Türkiye

Murat Kürşat
0000-0002-0861-4213
Türkiye

Makbule Beyza Şen
0000-0003-4015-5595
Türkiye

İbrahim Seyda Uras
0000-0001-5945-8743
Türkiye

Belma Konuklugil
0000-0002-4753-0450
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

February 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 28, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA33ET74BF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Erikçi, A., Kürşat, M., Şen, M. B., Uras, İ. S., & Konuklugil, B. (2026). Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(3), 1304-1313. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162

AMA

1.Erikçi A, Kürşat M, Şen MB, Uras İS, Konuklugil B. Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15(3):1304-1313. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162

Chicago

Erikçi, Açelya, Murat Kürşat, Makbule Beyza Şen, İbrahim Seyda Uras, and Belma Konuklugil. 2026. “Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants Against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 (3): 1304-13. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162.

EndNote

Erikçi A, Kürşat M, Şen MB, Uras İS, Konuklugil B (September 1, 2026) Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 3 1304–1313.

IEEE

[1]A. Erikçi, M. Kürşat, M. B. Şen, İ. S. Uras, and B. Konuklugil, “Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1304–1313, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162.

ISNAD

Erikçi, Açelya - Kürşat, Murat - Şen, Makbule Beyza - Uras, İbrahim Seyda - Konuklugil, Belma. “Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants Against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15/3 (September 1, 2026): 1304-1313. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162.

JAMA

1.Erikçi A, Kürşat M, Şen MB, Uras İS, Konuklugil B. Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15:1304–1313.

MLA

Erikçi, Açelya, et al. “Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants Against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 1304-13, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162.

Vancouver

1.Açelya Erikçi, Murat Kürşat, Makbule Beyza Şen, İbrahim Seyda Uras, Belma Konuklugil. Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Turkish Medicinal Plants against Human Lung, Hepatocellular, and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Sep. 1;15(3):1304-13. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1893162