Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth

<i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth is a medicinal plant native to Ecuadorian highlands with limited scientific study despite its ethnopharmacological relevance. The present study investigates the phytochemical properties and cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extract of <i>G. diffusum...

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Main Authors: Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides, Tatiana Añazco-Loayza, Anabel Correa-Sinche, Andrea Alvarez-Ruiz, Luis Miguel Guamán-Ortiz, Rodrigo Duarte-Casar, Natalia Bailon-Moscoso
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/777
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author Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides
Tatiana Añazco-Loayza
Anabel Correa-Sinche
Andrea Alvarez-Ruiz
Luis Miguel Guamán-Ortiz
Rodrigo Duarte-Casar
Natalia Bailon-Moscoso
author_facet Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides
Tatiana Añazco-Loayza
Anabel Correa-Sinche
Andrea Alvarez-Ruiz
Luis Miguel Guamán-Ortiz
Rodrigo Duarte-Casar
Natalia Bailon-Moscoso
author_sort Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides
collection DOAJ
description <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth is a medicinal plant native to Ecuadorian highlands with limited scientific study despite its ethnopharmacological relevance. The present study investigates the phytochemical properties and cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extract of <i>G. diffusum</i>. Comprehensive analyses revealed a rich composition of bioactive compounds, predominantly flavonoids and rutin, isoquercetin, and isorhamnetin-3-glucoside, known for their therapeutic potential, were isolated. The extract and its solvent fractions were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against three cell lines: RKO, SW613-B3, and HCT-116. Notably, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited cytotoxicity with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 44.47 ± 1.02 μg/mL against the SW613-B3 cell line, indicating its significant anticancer activity. The dichloromethane fraction also demonstrated noteworthy effects on the RKO and HCT-116 lines, while the methanolic fraction exhibited higher viability in HCT-116 cells. No genotoxicity was found in CHO-K1 cells. These findings underscore the potential of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for developing therapeutic agents against cancer and highlight the need for further research into its pharmacokinetics, in vivo efficacy, and the synergistic effects of its flavonoid constituents. This study contributes to enhancing our understanding of underexplored medicinal plants and supports conservation efforts for Ecuadorian biodiversity.
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spelling doaj-art-6d25cdc5c32f497a87f18e6e3c65a4302025-08-20T02:52:38ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-03-0114577710.3390/plants14050777Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> KunthJuan Carlos Romero-Benavides0Tatiana Añazco-Loayza1Anabel Correa-Sinche2Andrea Alvarez-Ruiz3Luis Miguel Guamán-Ortiz4Rodrigo Duarte-Casar5Natalia Bailon-Moscoso6Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110108, EcuadorDepartamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110108, EcuadorCarrera de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110108, EcuadorCarrera de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110108, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110108, EcuadorTecnología Superior en Gestión Culinaria, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador—Sede Manabí, Portoviejo 130103, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110108, Ecuador<i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth is a medicinal plant native to Ecuadorian highlands with limited scientific study despite its ethnopharmacological relevance. The present study investigates the phytochemical properties and cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extract of <i>G. diffusum</i>. Comprehensive analyses revealed a rich composition of bioactive compounds, predominantly flavonoids and rutin, isoquercetin, and isorhamnetin-3-glucoside, known for their therapeutic potential, were isolated. The extract and its solvent fractions were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against three cell lines: RKO, SW613-B3, and HCT-116. Notably, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited cytotoxicity with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 44.47 ± 1.02 μg/mL against the SW613-B3 cell line, indicating its significant anticancer activity. The dichloromethane fraction also demonstrated noteworthy effects on the RKO and HCT-116 lines, while the methanolic fraction exhibited higher viability in HCT-116 cells. No genotoxicity was found in CHO-K1 cells. These findings underscore the potential of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for developing therapeutic agents against cancer and highlight the need for further research into its pharmacokinetics, in vivo efficacy, and the synergistic effects of its flavonoid constituents. This study contributes to enhancing our understanding of underexplored medicinal plants and supports conservation efforts for Ecuadorian biodiversity.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/777flavonoidsEcuadorian medicinal plantscytotoxicity
spellingShingle Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides
Tatiana Añazco-Loayza
Anabel Correa-Sinche
Andrea Alvarez-Ruiz
Luis Miguel Guamán-Ortiz
Rodrigo Duarte-Casar
Natalia Bailon-Moscoso
Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth
Plants
flavonoids
Ecuadorian medicinal plants
cytotoxicity
title Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth
title_full Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth
title_fullStr Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth
title_full_unstemmed Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth
title_short Phytochemical Study, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of the Methanolic Extract of <i>Geranium diffusum</i> Kunth
title_sort phytochemical study cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the methanolic extract of i geranium diffusum i kunth
topic flavonoids
Ecuadorian medicinal plants
cytotoxicity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/777
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