CHARACTERIZATION OF CORDIYA MACLEODII'S CHEMICAL COMPONENTS VIA GC-MS AND LC-MS/QTOF AND THEIR IN VITRO ANTI-CERVICAL CANCER POTENTIAL

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cordia macleodii, traditionally recognized in Chhattisgarh as "Sanjivani," has been used in folk medicine for various ailments. However, its anticancer potential remains underexplored. Aim of the Study: This study investigates the in vitro cytotoxic effects of Cordia macleodii ethanol leaf extract on HeLa cervical cancer cells and characterizes its phytochemical constituents using GC-MS and LC-MS/QTOF techniques. Materials and Methods: Ethanol leaf extract of Cordia macleodii was subjected to phytochemical profiling via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Cytotoxic effects were assessed on HeLa cells using the MTT viability assay. Morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Results: GC-MS analysis revealed bioactive compounds such as n-Hexadecanoic acid (5.66%), 9-Octadecenoic acid (1.04%), and β-D-Glucopyranose (4.45%), known for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. LC-MS/QTOF analysis confirmed these and additionally identified phenolic acids and fatty acids. The MTT assay demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ value of 80.57 µg/ml. Treated cells showed morphological alterations indicative of apoptosis, including rounding, shrinkage, and detachment. Conclusions: The findings suggest that Cordia macleodii exhibits significant anticancer activity, potentially through oxidative stress modulation and apoptosis induction. These results support its ethnomedicinal use and warrant further studies to isolate active constituents and investigate their mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications.