<i>Basella alba</i> Aqueous Extract Characterization and Bioactivity Analysis Against Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT Colorectal cancer registered around 1.93 million new cases in 2022, with 904,000 deaths, which is projected to increase by 7.2%. The major drawbacks of conventional treatment strategies are recurrence and side effects. In the present research, Basella alba leaf extract was analyzed for its anticancer potential against colorectal cancer. The Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry (GC‐MS) has identified organic acid esters and amide, such as Oleamide, 2‐Fluoro‐5‐trifluoromethylbenzoic acid, as major phytochemicals, out of which 2(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene) succinic acid displays good pharmacokinetic characteristics. The extract has exhibited significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 53.18 ± 0.13 µg.mL −1 (DPPH assay), 49.19 ± 1.45 µg.mL −1 (Superoxide radical), 289.86 ± 1.19 µg.mL −1 (Phosphomolybdate assay) and 109.34 ± 1.95 µg.mL −1 (Hydroxyl radical). The extract has shown dose and time‐dependent apoptosis of HCT‐116 cells. The apoptotic characteristics were further confirmed by DAPI staining, Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, and expression regulation of BAX, CASPASE‐3, and BCL2 genes. The diverse phenolic and flavonoid compounds in aqueous extract not only contributed to antioxidant potential but also led to G0/G1 phase arrest caused by cyclin D1 and pRb inhibition, p21 upregulation, and E2F‐1 inhibition. The findings indicate that Basella alba is a promising source of antiproliferative and antioxidant bioactive molecules that can be used as a complementary therapeutic agent against colorectal cancer.