GC-MS Profiling of Berberis vulgaris Leaf Extract and Its Cytotoxic Effects on THP-1 Leukemia Cells

Berberis vulgaris is a medicinal plant widely recognized for its diverse pharmacological properties, including anticancer potential. This study evaluated the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of ethanolic leaf extract of B. vulgaris (E-BVL) on THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cells. Chemical profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed octatriacontyl pentafluoropropionate (59.18%) as the major constituent. Although both leaf and branch extracts were chemically analyzed, subsequent cell-based assays were performed exclusively with the leaf extract due to its higher content of major bioactive constituents and more reproducible composition. The WST-8 assay demonstrated a clear, dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 194.8 µg/mL. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that E-BVL significantly upregulated pro-apoptotic genes (BAX and CASP3), while downregulating anti-apoptotic (BCL-XL), cell cycle-related (CDK6), and immune-regulatory (CD33 and CD86) genes. These results suggest that E-BVL may influence apoptotic and proliferative pathways in THP-1 leukemia cells. Overall, this study highlights B. vulgaris leaf extract as a promising natural source of bioactive compounds for anti-leukemic research, without specifically implicating berberine, which was not detected in the extract.