Cytotoxic Activity, Anti-migration and in silico Study of o-Coumaric acid on H1975 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer represents the most common malignancy and remains the primary cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Phenolic acids, including o-coumaric acid (OCA), have attracted considerable attention due to their diverse biological activities, particularly their anticancer properties. This study evaluates the cytotoxic activity of OCA, along with its anti-migration effects and molecular docking analysis. The in vitro cytotoxicity of OCA on H1975 cells was assessed using the MTT assay and Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, while its impact on cell migration was analyzed through an in vitro scratch assay. OCA demonstrated cytotoxic activity against H1975 cells, with an IC50 value of 8.107 mM, and inhibited cell migration by 38%. Additionally, in silico molecular docking was performed to investigate its interaction with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Although OCA exhibited notable binding interactions with EGFR, including hydrogen bonding and pi-alkyl interactions, its binding affinity (−5.9 kcal/mol) was lower compared to Gefitinib (−8.5 kcal/mol), a known EGFR inhibitor. These findings suggest that while OCA holds potential as a therapeutic agent against non-small cell lung cancer, its efficacy may be enhanced through structural modifications, including the synthesis of derivatives, warranting further research into its industrial and clinical applications