Elaeodendron buchananii (Loes.) Loes. stem bark: Unveiling the phytochemical profiles and selective bioactivity to combat tongue cancer

Abstract

Objective

The study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory potential of the methanolic stem bark extract of Elaeodendron buchananii (EB) through in vitro assays and LC-MS based phytochemical profiling.

Design

The cytotoxicity of EB was evaluated using the MTT assay on cell lines: RAW 264.7 (murine macrophages), HGF-1 (human gingival fibroblasts), and SCC-25 (human tongue squamous carcinoma cells). Oxidative stress and membrane damage were evaluated using reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, respectively, while susceptibility to oxidative stress was examined through H₂O₂ challenge. A Griess reagent assay was used to determine EB's anti-inflammatory properties in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

Results

EB exhibited no toxicity to HGF-1 across a concentration range of 50–800 µg/mL, while showing moderate cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells, at 1000 µg/mL (cell viability 67.63 ± 2.81 %). Notably, EB demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against SCC-25 cells (IC₅₀ = 581.9 µg/mL). Additionally, a significant reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production by EB was observed against RAW 264.7 cells when stimulated with LPS, indicating anti-inflammatory (IC₅₀ = 401.40 µg/mL) properties. LC-MS analysis identified 16 phytochemicals, including various secondary metabolites (such as ursolic acid, elaeodendroside F, and oleandrin), each recognized for their pharmacological relevance.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate that EB possesses selective cytotoxicity toward tongue carcinoma cells and exhibits significant anti-inflammatory effects. These findings support its traditional medical application and point to its potential for additional phytopharmaceutical development. This report is the first to explore the in vitro cytotoxic effects of E. buchananii on tongue cancer cells.