Bioactivity-guided characterisation of iberin from Cakile edentula (Bigelow) Hook. inducing apoptosis in human melanoma cells.

Abstract

Despite important advances in cancer therapy, there remains a significant demand for the development of more effective, cancer-selective, and safer chemotherapy drugs. Plants have traditionally been a rich source of natural products that serve as remarkable anticancer agents, and they continue to play a crucial role in drug discovery. Cakile edentula (Bigelow) Hook. is a unique halophyte primarily studied in its associated environments from an ecological perspective; however, little is known about its bioactive constituents. This study, for the first time, aims to characterise the active compound of C. edentula that induces apoptosis in the human melanoma cell line, SK-MEL-28. By employing activity-guided discovery, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance, the active compound was isolated and structurally identified as isothiocyanate, iberin. This study suggests that C. edentula may serve as a promising natural source of compounds for further investigation in skin cancer therapy.