Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Cytotoxic Effects of Seseli tortuosum L. Root Extracts

<strong>Background and Aims: </strong>This study investigated the antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic effects of <em>Seseli tortuosum</em> L. root extracts, a member of the Apiaceae family known for its diverse pharmacological activities. The genus<em> Seseli L.</em> is historically used in traditional medicine, and the <em>Seseli </em>species generally exhibit anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties. <strong>Methods: </strong>Extraction involved maceration and Soxhlet methods using dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH). The antibacterial activity was assessed via broth microdilution assays, and the antifungal activity was evaluated using the Poison PDA technique against <em>Aspergillus parasiticus, Fusarium moniliforme, </em>and <em>Fusarium culmorum</em>. The cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines (MCF7, PC3, A549) and a normal embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) were determined using the MTT assay. <strong>Results: </strong>Cytotoxic assays indicated that the DCM macerate extract had the most potent effects on the PC3 cell line, with an IC₅₀ value of 82.78 ± 0.99 µg/mL, showing higher selectivity compared to the MCF7 and A549 cell lines. The antibacterial tests revealed that the DCM and EtOAc extracts significantly inhibited E. Faecalis, MIC values calculated as 0.3125 mg/mL for both extracts. The antifungal activity results indicated that the Soxhlet DCM extract exhibited the most consistent antifungal activity, particularly against <em>F. culmorum</em> and <em>F. moniliforme</em> %44 inhibition for both, whereas the MeOH Soxhlet extract showed strain specific effects. The extracts displayed substantial antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings of this study underscore the need for further biological and phytochemical investigations to fully explore the potential of the <em>S. tortuosum</em> extracts as cytotoxic therapeutics and antimicrobial agents.