Investigation of the effect of some bryophyte ethanol extracts on HCT116 colorectal cancer cell viability and molecular level changes by spectroscopic methods

Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of a group of cells in any part of the body faster than the surrounding normal tissues, impaired differentiation, infiltration into surrounding tissues, and metastasis of these cells to different parts of the body by passing into the circulation. Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world, with more than a million new diagnoses every year. As can be seen in all age groups, it is not inherited. Considering these data, it is an important need to research new drug combinations for the treatment of cancer. In this study, the effects of extracts obtained from Syntrichia ruraliformis (K1), Hypnum andoi (K2), Plathypnidium riparioides (K3) bryophyte species against HCT116 colon cancer cell lines were evaluated. Cytotoxicity test (MTT) measurements were performed at various concentrations by preparing stock solutions with DMSO from extracts of bryophyte species obtained in ethyl alcohol solvent. The doses determined according to the IC50 values of all moss species in the HCT116 series were applied to the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the same way. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze cancer cells exposed to three mosses. As a result, it was determined that moss species had a highly cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect against HCT116 colorectal cancer cell line, on the contrary, it was not lethal in MSC cells. In addition, it was determined at the molecular level that the results obtained with the FTIR spectrum were parallel to all cytotoxic data. In the light of all the results, these bryophyte species are considered to be potential cancer drugs if their bioactive components are determined.