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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2026)

Phytochemical characterisation and cytotoxic potential of the n-hexane extract of cultivated Brugmansia versicolor using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS analyses

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.16165
Submitted
17 June 2026
Published
29-09-2026 — Updated on 01-10-2026
Versions

Abstract

The current study aims to analyse the phytochemical components of cultivated Brugmansia versicolor Lagerh. and assess their cytotoxic efficacy against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). The phytochemical profile of the n-hexane fraction was qualitatively analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) in both positive and negative ionisation modes. Analysis by GC/MS indicated twenty compounds, with the n-hexane fraction being rich in fatty acids, including hexadecanoic, octadecanoic and eicosanoic acids, together with phytol and campesterol. Analysis by LC-ESI-MS/MS revealed 31 compounds by positive ion mode and 47 compounds in the negative ion mode, predominantly tropane alkaloids including scopolamine, atropine, anisodamine, norhyoscyamine, pseudotropine, tropinone and meteloidine. Additionally, fatty acids including linoleic acid and oleic acid were recognised. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (MTT assay) was employed to evaluate the cytotoxic effectiveness of the n-hexane fraction against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) at different dosages and incubation durations. Based on our knowledge, the study is one of the first studies on the cytotoxic activity of B. versicolor. The highest growth inhibition (79.11 ± 1.77) was at the highest dose (2 mg/mL) after 48 hr of treatment. Significant differences among treatment concentrations were observed (p < 0.001). The IC₅₀ values of 1.735, 0.360 and 0.863 mg/mL were obtained by nonlinear regression analysis after 24, 48 and 72 hr of exposure respectively, showing that the highest cytotoxic activity was obtained after 48 hr. These findings suggest that cultivated B. versicolor could be a source of bioactive phytochemicals with cytotoxic activity. More research is needed to identify the active compounds and their mechanisms of action.

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