Anticancer Effects of Sacha Inchi ( Plukenetia volubilis ) Shell Extract on Colon Cancer Cells: Integrated GC-MS, LC-MS, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Analyses

Supawadee Osotprasit; Saowaros Suwansa-Ard; Scott F Cummins; Tianfang Wang; Stuart J Smith; Tepparit Samrit; Athit Chaiwichien; Narin Changklungmoa; Pornanan Kueakhai

doi:10.3390/ijms27010234

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Anticancer Effects of Sacha Inchi ( Plukenetia volubilis ) Shell Extract on Colon Cancer Cells: Integrated GC-MS, LC-MS, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Analyses

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Anticancer Effects of Sacha Inchi ( Plukenetia volubilis ) Shell Extract on Colon Cancer Cells: Integrated GC-MS, LC-MS, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Analyses

Supawadee Osotprasit, Saowaros Suwansa-Ard, Scott F Cummins, Tianfang Wang, Stuart J Smith, Tepparit Samrit, Athit Chaiwichien, Narin Changklungmoa and Pornanan Kueakhai

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol.27(1), pp.1-25

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010234

PMCID: PMC12785288

PMID: 41516111

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Abstract

colon cancer

plant extract

sacha inchi

anti-cancer activity

omics

With an aging population and the increase in life expectancy, colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common. Currently, the mainstay of treatment is chemotherapy, which can cause a variety of side effects. However, herbalists in many cultures have long used herbs to promote health and treat various diseases, including colon cancer. This study investigated the chemical components of shell extracts from (sacha inchi) and their effects on colon cancer cells. First, cytotoxicity against both normal and cancer cells was assessed, followed by cell migration and invasion. Finally, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed to investigate molecular mechanisms. Phytochemical analysis showed a total phenolic content of 134.61 ± 0.27 mgGAE/g extract and a total flavonoid content of 5.75 ± 0.01 mgQE/g extract; moreover, lidocaine (10.57%) and linolenic acid (10.39%) were identified as the most abundant compounds. In vitro, the extract inhibited cell migration, invasion, and colony formation and was associated with potential modulations of the Hippo pathways and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, it can be concluded that these extracts are effective in inhibiting the progression of colon cancer cells, and thus, they can prospectively be developed as a dietary supplement or therapeutic agent for the treatment of colon cancer in the future.

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Title: Anticancer Effects of Sacha Inchi ( Plukenetia volubilis ) Shell Extract on Colon Cancer Cells: Integrated GC-MS, LC-MS, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Analyses
Authors: Supawadee Osotprasit - Burapha University
Saowaros Suwansa-Ard - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
Scott F Cummins - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
Tianfang Wang - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
Stuart J Smith - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
Tepparit Samrit - Burapha University
Athit Chaiwichien - Burapha University
Narin Changklungmoa - Burapha University
Pornanan Kueakhai (Corresponding Author) - Burapha University
Publication details: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol.27(1), pp.1-25
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.3390/ijms27010234
ISSN: 1422-0067
PMID: 41516111; PMC12785288
Copyright note: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Data Availability: The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are publicly available. The raw data from whole transcriptome sequencing are deposited under the BioProject accession number PRJNA1236814 in both the NCBI BioProject and SRA databases, accessible at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/?term=PRJNA1236814 (accessed on 16 March 2025). Raw data from peptide mass spectrometry are accessible under the accession number PXD062512 at https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pride/archive/projects/PXD062512 in the PRIDE database (accessed on 11 November 2025).
Grant note: This work was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT; N41A650402) and TAI.C.M.S. Standard industrial company limited.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991198446702621
Output Type: Journal article

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