Chemical composition and in vitro bioactivities of hydroalcoholic extracts from Turnera pumilea, Hyptis lantanifolia, and Ageratina popayanensis cultivated in Colombia

Colombia's strategic location, encompassing diverse climates and ecosystems, enables abundant flora. This environment offers bioprospecting opportunities, emphasizing sustainable plant use. Our main objective was to expand the knowledge of the chemical, pharmacological, and cosmetic potential of three cultivated species, namely, T. pumilea, H. lantanifolia, and A. popayanensis. UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-HRMS and quantification of total flavonoid, phenolic, and condensed tannin contents were employed to elucidate the chemical composition. The antioxidant activity and photoprotective capacity were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Calu-1 and HepG2 cells were used to assess cytotoxicity by MTT assay, and early intracellular ROS production was evaluated using an H₂-DCFDA probe. The results demonstrate the richness of the chemical composition of the studied species, identifying compounds with therapeutic properties, including gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and rutin, which are recognized as antioxidant and ultraviolet protective agents, supporting their uses in traditional medicine. The cytotoxicity evaluation on Calu-1 and HepG2 cells revealed the antiproliferative effects of these plants, especially the T. pumilea extract, on Calu-1 cells, and the possible influence of ROS generation, which could explain the observed effects. This research underlines the need for thorough evaluations of toxicological effects and the characterization of the mechanism of action involved to support the results obtained.