Biomaterial-Based Delivery of Ornithogalum brachystachys Methanolic Extract Enhances Apoptosis in HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells via BAX/BCL2 Modulation

This study evaluated methanolic and hexanic extracts of Ornithogalum brachystachys C.Koch for anti-cancer effects on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, comparing them to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Cells were treated with extracts (25−200 µg/mL) or 5-FU (5−100 µM) for up to 72 hours. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT, and apoptosis-related gene expression (BAX and BCL2) by qRT-PCR. The methanolic extract showed the strongest cytotoxicity, reducing viability to 44.9% at 100 µg/mL after 72 hours and increasing BAX expression by 1.48-fold, indicating apoptosis. The hexanic extract had moderate cytotoxicity (63.7% viability at 25 µg/mL, 24 hours) with no significant changes in apoptotic gene expression. 5-FU decreased viability to 51.9% at 5 µM after 72 hours and produced stronger apoptotic signaling (BAX +1.75-fold, BCL2 −0.63-fold). Overall, the methanolic extract demonstrates notable, albeit weaker, pro-apoptotic activity via BAX/BCL2 modulation and may serve as a promising, lower-toxicity complementary natural anticancer candidate warranting further phytochemical and in vivo studies.