Acetylmelodorinol isolated from Sphaerocoryne affinis seeds inhibits cell proliferation and activates apoptosis on HeLa cells

Background Cervical cancer is a major global health concern with a high prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. Natural products, particularly plant-derived compounds, have shown immense potential for developing anticancer drugs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer properties of the pericarp and seeds of Sphaerocoryne affinis fruit on human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) and isolate the bioactive compound from the active fraction. Methods We prepared solvent fractions from the ethanol extracts of the pericarp and the seed portion by partitioning and assessing their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells. Subsequently, we collected acetylmelodorinol (AM), an anticancer compound, from the ethyl acetate fraction of seeds and determined its structure using nuclear magnetic resonance. We employed cytotoxicity assay, western blotting, Annexin V apoptosis assay, measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, to evaluate the anticancer properties of AM on HeLa. Results The solvent fractions from the seed displayed considerably higher cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells than those of the pericarp. We isolated and identified acetylmelodorinol as an anticancer compound from the ethyl acetate fraction from S. affinis seed extract. Treatment with acetylmelodorinol inhibited HeLa cell proliferation with an IC 50 value of 2.62 ± 0.57 µg/mL. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that acetylmelodorinol treatment disrupted cell cycle progression by reducing the expression of cyclin E, CDK1/2, and AKT/mTOR pathways, increasing the intracellular ROS levels, reducing BCL-2/BCL-XL expression, causing DNA fragmentation and nuclear shrinkage, and triggering apoptosis through caspase 3 and 9 activation in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Conclusion In contrast to previous reports, this study focuses on the inhibitory effects of AM on the AKT/mTOR pathway, leading to a reduction in cell proliferation in cervical cancer cells. Our findings highlight the promising potential of acetylmelodorinol as an effective treatment for cervical cancer. Additionally, this study establishes a foundation for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying AM’s properties, fostering further exploration into plant-based cancer therapies.