Metabolite Profile of Crescentia cujete L. Fruit Infusion Based on LC-MS Analysis and Its Toxicity Against Artemia salina Leach: Profil Metabolit Infusa Buah Majapahit (Crescentia cujete L.) Berdasarkan Analisis LC-MS serta Uji Toksisitas terhadap Artemia salina Leach

Rahma Martha (STIKes Karya Putra Bangsa)
Danar Danar (Departemen Kimia, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Malang)

Prosiding Seminar Nasional Universitas Ma Chung
Bahasa dan Seni

Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation due to cell cycle dysregulation. The development of natural product-based anticancer compounds offers a safer and more effective therapeutic alternative. This study aimed to identify the secondary metabolites in the fruit pulp infusion of Crescentia cujete L. (calabash) using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and to evaluate its cytotoxic potential via the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT). This experimental study utilized Crescentia cujete fruit pulp infusion prepared by the aqueous infusion method. The LC-MS/MS analysis successfully identified 101 metabolites, predominantly flavonoids, specifically kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside (3.29479%) and hesperidin (3.18572%). The cytotoxicity test against Artemia salina Leach larvae revealed an LC₅₀ value of 675.46 ppm, indicating that the infusion is classified as toxic (LC₅₀ < 1000 ppm) and possesses potential as an anticancer candidate for preliminary screening. These findings suggest that Crescentia cujete fruit pulp infusion is a promising source of secondary metabolites for the development of natural product-based anticancer drugs. Future studies are required to confirm this cytotoxic activity through in vitro assays on cancer cell lines and in vivo models to establish its efficacy and safety.