Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 30 Number 1 (2026): 1701

Research Article

Phytochemical characterization and mechanistic analysis of solvent-derived extracts from Malaysian mangroves Sonneratia alba and Bruguiera cylindrica for potential anticancer properties

Norain Nadzrin¹, Noor Wini Mazlan², Murni Nur Islamiah Kassim¹, Jen Kit Tan³, and Sevakumaran Vigneswari^1,4*

¹Malaysian Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

³Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, 56000, Malaysia

⁴Ocular Infections and Antimicrobials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, 169856 Singapore

*Corresponding author: vicky@umt.edu.my

Received: 15 September 2025; Revised: 19 January 2025; Accepted: 5 January 2026; Published: 28 February 2026

Abstract

Mangroves have garnered considerable attention in anticancer research due to their abundance of phytochemicals. However, Sonneratia alba and Bruguiera cylindrica, two native mangrove species from Pengkalan Gelap, Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia, remain underexplored. This study examined the cytotoxic effects, apoptosis-inducing potential, and antioxidant activity of twig extracts from these species. Extracts were prepared using methanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane, and tested in vitro against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and a non-cancerous rat muscle cell line (L6). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTS assay, apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC staining, cell viability by trypan blue exclusion, and antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals. Among the six extracts, the hexane extract of S. alba (SAH) demonstrated the strongest cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ of 3.47 µg/mL, followed by the hexane extract of B. cylindrica (BCH, IC₅₀ = 7.76 µg/mL) and the ethyl acetate extract of S. alba (SAEA, IC₅₀ = 27.8 µg/mL). All extracts exhibited minimal toxicity toward L6 cells. Apoptosis induction by BCH, SAH, and SAEA was confirmed, while trypan blue staining revealed less than 50% viability of MCF-7 cells after 72 hours. Notably, only SAEA displayed significant antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.125 mg/mL. These findings underscore the potent cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing properties of S. alba and B. cylindrica twig extracts, which selectively target breast cancer cells and hold promise as potential sources of novel anticancer agents.

Keywords: mangrove, phytochemicals, natural product, anticancer, breast cancer

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