Metabolite profiling and cytotoxicity of Tragopogon dubius fractions against MCF-7 cells

Tragopogon dubius is a biennial herbaceous plant with multiple uses in ethnomedicine. Traditionally consumed as a vegetable, it has been reported to treat various conditions, including wounds, liver dysfunction, kidney disorders, and certain skin diseases. Despite its traditional use, it remains one of the least explored species in terms of biological activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antigenotoxic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties of the ethyl acetate extract obtained from the stem and leaves of T. dubius (TrDE), along with eleven fractions (F-1 to F-11) isolated via preparative thin-layer chromatography. Phytochemical profiling was performed using High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HRLC-MS/QTOF/Orbitrap) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Among the isolated fractions, F-9, F-10, and F-11 showed the highest antioxidant activity at a concentration of 800 mu g/mL, as determined by DPPH (IC50 44.70, 19.90, and 25.35 mu g/mL), ABTS (IC50 64.53, 22.64, and 34.28 mu g/mL), and FRAP (IC50 37.92, 23.85, and 57.96 mu g/mL) assays. The F-11 fraction also exhibited the highest total phenolic content (70.00 +/- 1.10 mg GAE/g dw), followed by F-10 and F-9, all exceeding the crude extract (33.04 +/- 1.10 mg GAE/g dw). Additionally, the TrDE extract displayed genoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes. In antiproliferative assays, the fractions demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, fractions F-7, F-10, and F-11 exhibited the highest cytotoxic effects, with GI50 values of 20.14, 35.37, and 33.58 mu g/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that T. dubius fractions possess promising therapeutic potential against human breast cancer (MCF-7), warranting further in vivo investigation.