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Volume 31
Issue 1
10.3390/molecules31010107
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Integrative Evaluation of Kigelia africana Fruit Extract: Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Activity, Synergism with Cisplatin and Mechanistic Insights in Colorectal Carcinoma

by
Rositsa Mihaylova
1,*,
Nikolay Bebrivenski
1,
Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova
2,
Rumyana Simeonova
1,*,
Nisha Singh
3,
Spiro Konstantinov
1 and
Georgi Momekov
1
1
Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
2
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
3
School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2026, 31(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010107 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 26 November 2025 / Revised: 19 December 2025 / Accepted: 23 December 2025 / Published: 26 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Opportunities of Natural Products in Drug Discovery)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Kigelia africana (“sausage tree”) is an established medicinal plant in African traditional medicine, now recognized for its diverse bioactive constituents and emerging anticancer potential. This study systematically evaluates Kigelia africana fruit extract (KAE) in an in vitro model of HT-29 colorectal carcinoma cells, focusing on its cytotoxic effects, mechanistic impact on protein expression, and synergy with cisplatin chemotherapy. Across 42 oncology-related proteins, covering cell survival, apoptosis, adhesion, invasion, and signaling, KAE demonstrated extensive but typically moderate modulation, while cisplatin produced more pronounced responses in most markers. Protein changes linked to metastasis, therapy resistance, and survival were broadly suppressed, indicating significant antitumor activity. Notably, co-treatment with KAE and cisplatin in HT-29 cells resulted in marked synergistic cytotoxicity, permitting lower cisplatin doses while maintaining efficacy. LC-HRMS analyses revealed 14 metabolites in the extract, including phenolic acids naphthoquinones and iridoids, which may contribute to these effects.
Keywords: Kigelia africana; cisplatin; colorectal carcinoma; EGFR; apoptosis; metastasis; naphtoquinones; iridoids; phenolic acids Kigelia africana; cisplatin; colorectal carcinoma; EGFR; apoptosis; metastasis; naphtoquinones; iridoids; phenolic acids

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mihaylova, R.; Bebrivenski, N.; Zheleva-Dimitrova, D.; Simeonova, R.; Singh, N.; Konstantinov, S.; Momekov, G. Integrative Evaluation of Kigelia africana Fruit Extract: Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Activity, Synergism with Cisplatin and Mechanistic Insights in Colorectal Carcinoma. Molecules 2026, 31, 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010107

AMA Style

Mihaylova R, Bebrivenski N, Zheleva-Dimitrova D, Simeonova R, Singh N, Konstantinov S, Momekov G. Integrative Evaluation of Kigelia africana Fruit Extract: Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Activity, Synergism with Cisplatin and Mechanistic Insights in Colorectal Carcinoma. Molecules. 2026; 31(1):107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010107

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mihaylova, Rositsa, Nikolay Bebrivenski, Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova, Rumyana Simeonova, Nisha Singh, Spiro Konstantinov, and Georgi Momekov. 2026. "Integrative Evaluation of Kigelia africana Fruit Extract: Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Activity, Synergism with Cisplatin and Mechanistic Insights in Colorectal Carcinoma" Molecules 31, no. 1: 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010107

APA Style

Mihaylova, R., Bebrivenski, N., Zheleva-Dimitrova, D., Simeonova, R., Singh, N., Konstantinov, S., & Momekov, G. (2026). Integrative Evaluation of Kigelia africana Fruit Extract: Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Activity, Synergism with Cisplatin and Mechanistic Insights in Colorectal Carcinoma. Molecules, 31(1), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010107

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