Valuable Biological Activities Research Articles

Structural characteristics of neutral polysaccharides purified from coix seed and its anti‐insulin resistance effects on HepG2 cells

AbstractCoix seed is recognized as a functional medicinal food due to its valuable biological activities, with polysaccharides being the primary active compounds. In this study, an ultrasonic‐assisted enzymatic extraction technique was employed, and response surface methodology was used to optimize the yield of polysaccharides to 9.55 ± 0.26%. A novel neutral polysaccharide, CSPsN‐1, was purified with a molecular weight of 7.75 kDa. CSPsN‐1 was composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, and mannose in molar ratios of 0.48: 7.92: 86.39: 2.42: 2.79. Its backbone composed of →4)‐α‐D‐Glcp‐(1→ and →3,4)‐α‐D‐Glcp‐(1→ units, with terminal residues of α‐D‐Glcp. In vitro experiments, CSPsN‐1 enhanced glucose consumption in insulin‐resistant HepG2 cells and upregulated GLUT4 expression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggest that CSPsN‐1 holds significant promise as a functional ingredient for treating insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders.

Marine Polyphenols in Cardiovascular Health: Unraveling Structure-Activity Relationships, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Implications.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for significant mortality rates globally that have been raised due to the limitation of the available treatments and prevalence of CVDs. The innovative research and identification of potential preventives for CVDs are essential to alleviate global deaths and complications. The marine environment is a rich source of bioactive substances and provides a unique chemical arsenal against numerous ailments due to its unrivaled biodiversity. Marine polyphenolic compounds (MPCs) are unique because of their structural variety and biologically significant activity. Further, MPCs are well-reported for their valuable biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and antioxidant, demonstrating encouraging results in preventing and treating CVDs. Therefore, investigation of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) between MPCs and CVDs provides insights that reveal how the structural components of these compounds affect their effectiveness. Further, comprehending this correlation is essential for advancing medications and nutraceuticals sourced from marine sources, which could transform the strategy for treating and preventing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of existing research by emphasizing the role of MPCs in CVD treatments and evaluating the SAR between MPCs and CVDs with challenges and future directions.

Protective properties of the edible halophyte Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. towards neoformed food contaminants-related oxidative stress and genotoxicity

Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. is an edible halophyte native to South Africa, where it has been traditionally consumed as food, revealing its nutritional value, and used in the treatment of human diseases probably due to the accumulation of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. These compounds have potential to display valuable biological activities that could bring several benefits to the human being, including the mitigation of toxicity induced by food contaminants. Therefore, this study investigated biological activities with health-promoting potential of a C. edulis ethanol extract (CEE), such as antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic. CEE was shown by LC-DAD-ESI/MSn to be composed of 16 polyphenols. The extract exhibited antioxidant properties by protecting Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability and improving the redox state of HepG2 cells under oxidative stress. Antigenotoxicity of CEE against H2O2-induced oxidative damage was detected in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells by comet assay and subsequently observed in the dominant deletion assay in S. cerevisiae. Antigenotoxicity and antimutagenicity of CEE towards the neoformed contaminant benzo[a]pyrene was found in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells by comet assay and in Salmonella typhimurium using the Ames test, respectively. The disclosed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic properties of C. edulis further advance its potential for application in food and nutraceutical industries for health benefits.

Supercritical CO2-Based Extraction and Detection of Phenolic Compounds and Saponins from the Leaves of Three Medicago varia Mart. Varieties by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A comparative metabolomic study of three varieties of alfalfa (Medicago varia Mart.) was performed via extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide modified with ethanol (EtOH) and the detection of bioactive compounds via tandem mass spectrometry. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range of 50–250 bar, with ethanol used as a co-solvent in an amount of 1% of the total volume in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31–70 °C. The most effective extraction conditions were as follows: a pressure of 250 Bar and a temperature of 60 °C for M. varia. M. varia contains various phenolic compounds and sulfated polyphenols with valuable biological activity. Tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI–ion trap) was applied to detect the target analytes. A total of 103 bioactive compounds (59 polyphenols and 44 compounds belonging to other chemical groups) were tentatively identified in extracts from aerial parts of alfalfa. For the first time, twenty-one chemical constituents from the polyphenol group (flavones: Formononetin, Chrysoeriol, Cirsimaritin, Cirsiliol, Cirsilineol, tricin-O-hexoside, Apigenin C-glucose C-deoxyhexoside, Apigenin 7-O-diglucuronide, 2′-Hydroxygenistein 4′,7-O-diglucoside, etc.) and six from other chemical groups (saponins: Soyasaponin II, Soyasaponin gamma g, Soyasaponin I, Soyasaponin Bd, Soyaysaponin beta g, etc.) were identified in the aerial parts of M. varia.

Isolation of Streptomyces inhibiting multiple-phytopathogenic fungi and characterization of lucensomycin biosynthetic gene cluster

Soil microorganisms with diverse bioactive compounds such as Streptomyces are appreciated as valuable resources for the discovery of eco-friendly fungicides. This study isolated a novel Streptomyces from soil samples collected in the organic green tea fields in South Korea. The isolation process involved antifungal activity screening around 2400 culture extracts, revealing a strain designated as S. collinus Inha504 with remarkable antifungal activity against diverse phytopathogenic fungi. S. collinus Inha504 not only inhibited seven phytopathogenic fungi including Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger in bioassays and but also showed a control effect against F. oxysporum infected red pepper, strawberry, and tomato in the in vivo pot test. Genome mining of S. collinus Inha504 revealed the presence of the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) in the chromosome encoding a polyene macrolide which is highly homologous to the lucensomycin (LCM), a compound known for effective in crop disease control. Through genetic confirmation and bioassays, the antifungal activity of S. collinus Inha504 was attributed to the presence of LCM BGC in the chromosome. These results could serve as an effective strategy to select novel Streptomyces strains with valuable biological activity through bioassay-based screening and identify biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the metabolites using genome mining approach.

Profile and in silico analysis of metabolite compounds of the endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata K-10 from Drymoglossum piloselloides as antioxidants and antibacterials

Endophytic fungi are known for producing secondary metabolites with valuable biological activities, including antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. This study aims to evaluate an endophytic fungus from Dragon Scales leaves (Drymoglossum piloselloides) and analyze its metabolites as antioxidants and antibacterials. In this study, an endophytic fungus was isolated from the leaves of Dragon Scales (D. piloselloides) and identified using molecular analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) ribosomal RNA locus. The fungus was authenticated as Alternaria alternata strain K-10. Crude extracts were obtained using n-hexane and ethyl acetate and analyzed via GC-MS Shimadzu-QP 2010 Ultra with NIST spectral library. Antibacterial activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the paper disc method, showing inhibition zones of 8.7–9.3 mm and 8.8–9.4 mm for ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts, respectively. Ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts exhibited strong antioxidant potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical (IC50 values of 50.99 μg mL−1 and 74.44 μg mL−1, respectively). GC–MS analysis revealed 40 compounds in both extracts, some of which, including 2-ethylhexyl ester benzoic acid, benzo-b-dihydropyran-6-hydroxy-4-4-5-7-8-pentamethyl, diethyl phthalate, and octadecanoic acid, were identified through in silico analysis and found to possess antioxidant properties. These findings hold implications for potential applications of the plant and its biological constituent to be developed as lead compounds in the medical sector.

RIBES FRAGRANS PALLAS: SUPERCRITICAL CO2 EXTRACTION AND TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY

Supercritical fluid technology was used to obtain bioactive substances from leaves of Ribes fragrans Pallas. The supercritical fluid technology proved to be the most effective type of extraction, giving the highest yield of metabolome composition of R. fragrans. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range 50–300 bar, with the used volume of co-solvent ethanol in the amount of 2.5% in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31–70 °C. The most effective extraction conditions are: pressure 200 Bar and temperature 55 °C for leaves of R. fragrans. The CO2-extract of leaves of R. fragrans contain various polyphenolic compounds and compounds of other chemical groups with valuable biological activity. For the first time, the metabolome of supercritical extracts of R. fragrans leaves was studied in this research. Tandem mass-spectrometry (HPLC-ESI – ion trap) was applied to detect target analytes. The four-stage ion separation mode was implemented 79 different bioactive components have been identified in R. fragrans extracts. Twenty chemical compounds from polyphenol group and twelve chemical compounds from other chemical groups were identified for the first time in genus Ribes.

Effect of drying and storage on antioxidant activity parameters of celery, parsnip and root parsley chips

Vegetable chips are extremely popular due to high content of antioxidants, valuable biological activity and long-term storage. During the investigation optimal methods of drying and chips storage from celery (Egor and Dobrynya cvs), parsnip (Krugly, Bely aist and Zhemchug) and parsley (Zolushka cv) roots were developed using the criteria parameters of taste, aroma, color and antioxidant content. The highest organoleptic properties were recorded for celery chips of Dobrynya cv, parsnip chips of Krugly cv and root parsleyThe highest differences in chips organoleptic parameters between convectional and freeze-drying methods reached 1.5 times for parsnip Bely aist cv. while the lowest differences were recorded for root parsley (1.05 times). Decrease in antioxidant activity during freeze-drying was the lowest in root parsley and celery Dobrynya cv. Convectional drying did not affect chips total antioxidant activity and demonstrated the highest preservation effect after 8 months storage. On the contrary, vitamin C losses were the highest during convectional drying though during storage vitamin C content in such chips decreased much less than in freezedried products. Aluminum foil provided 1.2-1.8 times higher content of antioxidants than paper and polyethylene package. Significant inter species and varietal differences in antioxidant stability during various methods of drying and storage were revealed.

Potential use of Polyphenol-Enriched Extract from Moringa oleifera Leaves as an Active Ingredient in Sunscreen

Moringa oleifera is commonly referred to as the “tree of life” due to its high nutrient content and valuable biological activities. Widely found in tropical zones, this plant is usually used in local cuisine, cosmetic products and nutraceuticals. In this paper, we explored the potential of Moringa oleifera leaf alcoholic extract as a bioactive ingredient in sunscreen. Characterizations of extract were firstly investigated, including total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity. Formulations of extract containing creams were then created in order to examine its ability to protect against UVB radiation in the presence of other ingredients. Various evaluations of cream were carried out, including stability testing, UV absorption capacity, in vitro SPF values and microbial testing. The results revealed that Moringa oleifera extract showed a promising active ingredient in sunscreen, with a moderate antioxidant activity. Cream containing 2% of extract incorporated with 2% of oxybenzone demonstrated good in vitro SPF values.

Ribes fragrans Pall.: Supercritical CO2-extraction and complete plant metabolome

Supercritical fluid technology was used to obtain bioactive substances from leaves of Ribes fragrans Pallas. Supercritical fluid technology showed the strongest extractive effect, which helped to extract the maximum amount of bioactive substances. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range 50–300 bar, with the used volume of co-solvent ethanol in the amount of 2.5 % in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31–70°C. The most effective extraction conditions were: pressure 200 Bar and temperature 55°C. The CO2-extract of leaves of R. fragrans contain various polyphenolic compounds and compounds of other chemical groups with valuable biological activity. For the first time, the metabolome of supercritical extracts of R. fragrans leaves was studied in this research. Using the method of supercritical extraction of plant matrices with the method of tandem mass spectrometry, it was possible to tentatively identify 79 bioactive compounds, of which 53 compounds are of polyphenol group. 20 chemical compounds from polyphenol group and 12 chemical compounds from other chemical groups were identified for the first time in genus Ribes.

Red pigment from isolated Serratia marcescens SEM: Structure, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity

Pigments from microbial sources are likely to be suitable alternatives to synthetic pigments. Not only do natural pigments have the potential to increase product marketability, but they also exhibit valuable biological activities as antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Recently, microbial prodigiosin (PG) has received a lot of attention due to its many beneficial applications. PG is a natural red dye. It is an alkaloid secondary metabolite with a unique tertiary structure produced by Serratia marcescens. The purpose of our study was to isolate indigenous strains of S. marcescens and identify it, extraction the red pigment from culturable bacteria to confirm its structure, evaluate its antimicrobial activity against a series of pathogenic microbes (Staphylococcus aureus NRRL B-313 and Bacillus subtilus NRC, Escherichia coli NRC B-3703, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NRC B-32, Candida albicans ATCC1023 and Aspergillus niger NRC) by well diffusion assay and antioxidant activities by DPPH assay. The isolate was identified by morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA sequencing as S. marcescens SEM, with accession number OM757735.1. PG from S. marcescens was first confirmed its purity by UV absorption spectrum, FTIR and GC-MS spectrophotometer. PG possess effective antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens, with MIC 1.0 ± 0.15, 5.0 ± 0.25, 16.5 ± 0.87, 16.5 ± 0.92 and 3.3 ± 0.17 μg/mL against B. cereus, St. aureus, E. coli, P. aurgenosa, and C. albicans, respectively. Also, PG possess highly antioxidant activity 97.2% at the concentration of 400 μg/ml after 120 min in dark, this activity increased gradually with increasing concentrations and time of incubation in dark,with IC50 (250 μg/ml at 30 min; 225 μg/ml at 60 min; 200 μg/ml at 90 min; 125 μg/ml at 120 min).

Retention Behavior of Anticancer Thiosemicarbazides in Biomimetic Chromatographic Systems and In Silico Calculations.

Chromatographic methods, apart from in silico ones, are commonly used rapid techniques for the evaluation of certain properties of biologically active compounds used for their prediction of pharmacokinetic processes. Thiosemicarbazides are compounds possessing anticancer, antimicrobial, and other valuable biological activities. The aim of the investigation was to estimate the lipophilicity of 1-aryl-4-(phenoxy)acetylthiosemicarbazides, to predict their oral adsorption and the assessment of their % plasma-protein binding (%PPB). RP-HPLC chromatographic techniques with five diversified HPLC systems, including columns with surface-bonded octadecylsilanes (C-18), phosphatidylcholine (immobilized artificial membrane, IAM), cholesterol (Chol), and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and human serum albumin (HSA), were applied. The measured lipophilicity of all investigated compounds was within the range recommended for potential drug candidates. However, some derivatives are strongly bonded to HSA (%PPB ≈ 100%), which may limit some pharmacokinetic processes. HPLC determined lipophilicity descriptors were compared with those obtained by various computational approaches.

Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of the Anti-Sickle Cell Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Two Medicinal Plants from Niger: Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle and Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.

Sickle cell anaemia is a hereditary blood disorder that attacks the red blood cells and deforms them, giving them a sickle shape. Sickle cell anaemia is a serious health problem in the West African country of Niger. Moreover, the cost associated with medical care is very high. The main objective of this study is to contribute to the valorisation of Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle (aerial part), Kigelia africana (lam), and Benth (leaves) from Niger were used to treat sickle cell disease using aqueous and ethanolic extracts of phytochemical compounds. To achieve this objective, the evaluation of anti-sickle cell activity was carried out in vitro using the Emmel technique through the normalisation rate. The analyses showed that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts contained various classes of bioactive substances known for their valuable biological activities. The chemical composition rich in bioactive compounds led to very good results in biological assays. Thus, from a dose of 0.05 mg/mL, the ethanolic extracts of the two plants normalised up to 75% of the sickle cells. As the rate of normalisation was shown to be dose-dependent, at a dose of 10 mg/mL, the ethanolic extracts showed the best rates of sickle cell normalisation, with 95% for F. virosa and 93% for K. africana. Phytochemical screening was used to correlate the secondary metabolite and anti-sickle cell activities of the extracts from the two plants. These results may justify the use of these two species in traditional medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease in Niger. The inclusion of these plants in phytomedicines could provide significant relief to people suffering from sickle cell disease.

Magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of pyranopyrazoles: CoFe2O4@SiO2-HClO4

The multiheterocyclic ring system shows valuable pharmaceutical and biological activities. In the present study, a microwave-assisted three-component reaction between aryl aldehyde, malononitrile, and 5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazole-3-one led to the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles has been described. The reaction was carried out under solvent-free conditions in the presence of a new magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst (CoFe2O4@SiO2-HClO4). The reported protocol offers several advantages such as being environmentally benign, being rapid, inexpensive, having high atom and step economy, and being facile. The simple method of catalyst preparation, easy magnetic recovery, and reusability of the catalyst for four runs are notable features of the nanocatalyst. Antibacterial activity of all synthesized compounds was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. All synthesized compounds showed promising biological activity and may be used as a potential antibacterial candidate in biological science.

Silver nanoparticles synthesized from <i>Spilanthes acmella L. Murr</i> extract using antifungal and antibacterial

Spilanthes acmella L. Murr is a medicinal herb with many valuable biological activities such as clearing heat, detoxifying, dissipating phlegm, antiseptic, pain relief, antifungal, anti-inflammatory... In this work, we used Spilanthes acmella L. Murr extract to synthesize silver nanoparticles to combine and enhance the activity of silver and Spilanthes acmella L. Murr extract in antibacterial and antifungal activities. The reaction parameters were investigated to find the most optimal conditions for synthesizing silver nanoparticles, such as AgNO3 volume, solution pH, and reaction temperature. UV-VIS absorption spectra were used to analyze the influence of the reaction parameters. The functional groups on the silver nanoparticles as well as the Spilanthes acmella L. Murr extract were found by infrared absorption (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystal structure of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. On the basis of the synthesized silver nanoparticles, the antifungal activity was investigated on the strains: A. flavus (Af), A. brasiliensis (Ab), C. Albicans (Ca), and antibacterial: Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) was performed to compare the activity of the antibiotic ampicillin 100 mg/mL.

Extraction and evaluation of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of polysaccharide from Urena lobata L. roots

Polysaccharides are compounds found in the roots of Urena lobata L. Polysaccharides are of interest due to many valuable biological activities such as immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, diabetes treatment, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In this research, polysaccharides extracted from Urena lobata L. roots were analyzed by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectometry) and GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography). The results show that the polysaccharide from Urena lobata L. natural roots is a heteropolysaccharide. This polysaccharide has two peaks with the weighted average molecular weights (Mw) as 1.823 x 107 g/mol and 1.139 x 105 g/mol. The monosaccharide composition of this polysaccharide includes rhamnose, arabinose, xyloza, mannose, glucose and galactose with the composition ratios of 13.927, 16.579, 3.174, 5.442, 27.659 and 33.219% respectively. In addition, when investigating the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of polysaccharide from three types of Urena lobata L. roots cultured under different conditions: natural, in vitro and aeroponics, the results showed that the activity of in vitro hairy root polysaccharide was the best. This shows the potential for the development of biologically active polysaccharide sources by in vitro hairy root culture of Urena lobata L.

Synthesis and structural determination of pyrrolidine-2,3-dione derivatives from 4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyrroline-2-one

Numerous heterocyclic compounds containing 3-pyrroline-2-one or pyrrolidine-2,3-dione core have been found in nature and showed valuable biological activities. Therefore, the synthesis of 3-pyrroline-2-one derivatives and pyrrolidine-2,3-dione derivatives have attracted more and more attention from organic chemists and medicinal chemists. In this manuscript, 4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl-3-pyrroline-2-one has been prepared via three-component reaction and, besides, two 1,4,5-trisubstituted pyrrolidine-2,3-diones have also been synthesized via the reaction between the above 3-pyrroline-2-one derivative and aliphatic amine such as methylamine and4-methoxybenzylamine. The structure of desired products have been confirmed via 1D NMR (1H NMR, 13C NMR), 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC) and high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI – HRMS).

Actinomycetes as Producers of Biologically Active Terpenoids: Current Trends and Patents.

Terpenes and their derivatives (terpenoids and meroterpenoids, in particular) constitute the largest class of natural compounds, which have valuable biological activities and are promising therapeutic agents. The present review assesses the biosynthetic capabilities of actinomycetes to produce various terpene derivatives; reports the main methodological approaches to searching for new terpenes and their derivatives; identifies the most active terpene producers among actinomycetes; and describes the chemical diversity and biological properties of the obtained compounds. Among terpene derivatives isolated from actinomycetes, compounds with pronounced antifungal, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other effects were determined. Actinomycete-produced terpenoids and meroterpenoids with high antimicrobial activity are of interest as a source of novel antibiotics effective against drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Most of the discovered terpene derivatives are produced by the genus Streptomyces; however, recent publications have reported terpene biosynthesis by members of the genera Actinomadura, Allokutzneria, Amycolatopsis, Kitasatosporia, Micromonospora, Nocardiopsis, Salinispora, Verrucosispora, etc. It should be noted that the use of genetically modified actinomycetes is an effective tool for studying and regulating terpenes, as well as increasing productivity of terpene biosynthesis in comparison with native producers. The review includes research articles on terpene biosynthesis by Actinomycetes between 2000 and 2022, and a patent analysis in this area shows current trends and actual research directions in this field.

Maackia amurensis Rupr. et Maxim.: Supercritical CO2 Extraction and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Chemical Constituents

Three types of extraction were used to obtain biologically active substances from the heartwood of M. amurensis: supercritical CO2 extraction, maceration with EtOH, and maceration with MeOH. The supercritical extraction method proved to be the most effective type of extraction, giving the highest yield of biologically active substances. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range of 50-400 bar, with 2% of ethanol as co-solvent in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31-70 °C. The most effective extraction conditions are: pressure of 100 bar and a temperature of 55 °C for M. amurensis heartwood. The heartwood of M. amurensis contains various polyphenolic compounds and compounds of other chemical groups with valuable biological activity. Tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-ion trap) was applied to detect target analytes. High-accuracy mass spectrometric data were recorded on an ion trap equipped with an ESI source in the modes of negative and positive ions. The four-stage ion separation mode was implemented. Sixty-six different biologically active components have been identified in M. amurensis extracts. Twenty-two polyphenols were identified for the first time in the genus Maackia.

The Antioxidant and Proapoptotic Effects of Sternbergia clusiana Bulb Ethanolic Extract on Triple-Negative and Estrogen-Dependent Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Sternbergia clusiana belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is recognized for the valuable biological activity of its major bioactive compounds. The aim of the current is to evaluate the anticancer effects of the ethanolic bulb extract of Sternbergia clusiana (ScBEE) on breast cancer cells in vitro and to further reveal the underlying cellular mechanism. An MTS cell viability assay was performed on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, along with cell cycle analysis, cell death ELISA, Western blot analysis and an ROS production assay to decipher the mechanism of death. LC-MS/MS was also performed to identify the chemical composition of this ethanolic extract. The results show a selective antiproliferative effect on both cell lines with no effect on normal mesenchymal stem cells. Further analysis suggested the activation of the apoptotic pathway as reflected by the increase in cellular and DNA fragmentation and alterations in apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and c-PARP. ScBEE was also found to exhibit antioxidant effect, as shown by a decrease in ROS production. The underlying mechanism of action was explained by the presence of several bioactive compounds identified by LC-MS/MS, including alkaloids, terpenoids and phenols, which are elaborated in the manuscript. This study highlights the antioxidant and anticancerous properties of S.clusiana for breast cancer treatment.