In Vitro Activity Of Apigenin And Luteolin Of Durian Peel (Durio Zibethinus Murray) Induced Apoptosis In Cervical Cancer And Molecular Docking Approach: Involvement Of Bcl-2 Pathways

Ainur Rofiq (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
M. Dian Islami (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Muhammad Zihni Baihaqi (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Aditya Sofyansyah Hermaya (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Tristan Kanginan (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Humaira Medina Liza Lubis (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)

International Journal of Health, Engineering and Technology
Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026): Vol. 5 No. 3 SEPTEMBER 2026

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, with resistance to therapy often linked to Bcl-2 overexpression. This study evaluated the anticancer activity of durian peel extract (Durio zibethinus Murray) against HeLa cells through Bcl-2-mediated apoptosis and investigated apigenin and luteolin interactions with Bcl-2 via molecular docking. The extract was prepared by ethanol maceration, characterized by phytochemical screening and GC-MS, and tested for cytotoxicity using the MTT assay, while apoptosis was assessed through Bcl-2 immunofluorescence. Phytochemical screening confirmed flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and triterpenoids, with GC-MS identifying over 93 bioactive compounds. The extract exhibited significant cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ of 5.92 μg/mL, and cell viability decreased concentration-dependently (p < 0.05), accompanied by apoptotic morphological changes and reduced Bcl-2 expression. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding of apigenin and luteolin to Bcl-2, with binding energies of −6.01 and −5.55 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, durian peel extract demonstrates promising anticancer activity against HeLa cells by inducing apoptosis through Bcl-2 suppression, with apigenin and luteolin serving as potential natural candidates for cervical cancer therapy.