LC/MS‐Based Phytochemical Profiling and Immunomodulatory Evaluation of Three Medicinal Plants With Anticancer and Antibacterial Activities

Abstract

Breast cancer, chronic inflammation, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent major global health challenges that require novel multitarget therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, cytotoxic potential, immunomodulatory effects, and antibacterial properties of leaf extracts from Acrostichum aureum, Argemone mexicana, and Ficus religiosa. Sequential solvent extraction followed by LC-MS analysis revealed distinct phenolic profiles among the species. A. aureum was enriched in ferulic acid, rutin, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid, whereas A. mexicana contained veratric acid, luteolin, and apigenin. F. religiosa showed elevated levels of chlorogenic and protocatechuic acids along with related metabolites. All extracts exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, with DPPH radical scavenging ranging from 48.12 ± 5.22% to 63.14 ± 6.25% at 100 µg/mL and nitric oxide inhibition from 72.15 ± 6.17% to 78.24 ± 5.24% at 1000 µg/mL. Fractionated extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) displayed differential cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Notably, ethanolic fractions promoted pro-apoptotic signaling by increasing BAX expression (up to 2.5-fold) while suppressing BCL-2 (0.4-fold) and reducing inflammatory mediators IL-6 and TNF-α. Antibacterial assays further demonstrated species-specific activity patterns: A. mexicana and F. religiosa effectively inhibited Escherichia coli strains (up to 43.79% growth reduction), whereas A. aureum showed the strongest activity against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 (26.88 ± 8.25%). These findings highlight a clear relationship between phytochemical composition and biological activity, indicating that these medicinal plants may serve as promising sources of multitarget phytotherapeutic agents. Further in vivo studies and bioactive compound isolation are required to validate their therapeutic potential.

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