Phytochemical Screening of Balinese Traditional Herbal as Anticancer Candidates Using GC-MS and Molecular Docking Analysis

Indonesia's biodiversity holds great potential for drug development, including through the use of traditional medicinal plants such as tapak liman (Elephantopus scaber L.), suruhan (Peperomia pellucida L. Kunth), and temu ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.). These plants have been used in traditional medicine and are known to contain bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties. Tapak liman contains compounds capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Suruhan is known to have cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects, while temu ireng contains compounds with antioxidant and anticancer activity. This study aims to identify and quantify the bioactive compounds in these three plants using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and to explore their therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. The results of GC-MS analysis successfully identified six main compounds that have potential as anticancer agents, namely Phytol, Caryophyllene, Apiol, Germacrone, Germacrene B, and one additional compound. Temu ireng contains Germacrone, Germacrene B, and Caryophyllene, while suruhan contains Caryophyllene, Apiol, and Phytol. Meanwhile, tapak liman shows the presence of bioactive compounds that support cytotoxic activity. The focus of this study is on the interaction of bioactive compounds with the Bcl-2 protein, which plays a role in inhibiting apoptosis in cancer cells. Additionally, molecular analysis revealed that Germacrone, Germacrene B, Caryophyllene, and Apiol can also bind to the p53 protein, known as a guardian of the genome and a trigger for apoptosis. These findings suggest that the three plants have high potential as natural sources of anticancer agents. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are recommended to test the biological efficacy of these compounds in the context of cancer therapy, thereby bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches in the development of natural-based medications.