Incorporation of limonium species into drug delivery systems designed to treat global health problems and evaluation of their biopotentials

In this study, the bioactive compound content and anticancer potential of ethanol/water extracts obtained from the aerial and root parts of halophytic Limonium species (L. bellidifolium, L. sinuatum, and L. virgatum) were investigated. Phytochemical analyses of the extracts were performed, and cyclodextrin- and liposome-based encapsulation systems were applied to enhance their bioavailability. Following in vitro gastrointestinal digestion simulations, HPLC analyses were conducted to determine the retention and stability of major compounds. The antioxidant capacities and enzyme inhibition activities of the encapsulated extracts were evaluated, and cytotoxicity experiments on the HCT-116 colorectal cancer cell line were supported by bioinformatic and molecular docking analyses. The results revealed that root extracts of L. virgatum exhibited significantly higher biological activity across all assays compared to the other species. In particular, the anticancer results demonstrated that L. virgatum root extracts exerted selective cytotoxicity and effectively induced apoptosis in cancer cells. These findings suggest that Limonium species may serve as promising plant-based agents in colorectal cancer therapy. Furthermore, the study provides innovative insights into the potential applications of these halophytic plants in the management of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and skin disorders.