TRITERPENOIDS FROM SENEGALIA ATAXACANTHA: IN-VITRO ANTI-PROSTATIC CARCINOMA ACTIVITY AND IN-SILICO INTERACTIONS WITH ANDROGEN RECEPTORS AR:1E3G AND ARCCR:1GS4

Prostate cancer remains a significant global health burden, with traditional medicinal plants often used for its management, although without scientific validation. This study assessed the in-vitro anti-prostatic carcinoma activity of Senegalia ataxacantha hydroethanol extract (SA) and its triterpenoids (SA1/SA2: friedelin; SA3: friedelin/friedelinol mixture; SA4: β-sitosterol) in prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, VCaP, 22Rv1, PC-3, DU-145) and normal RWPE-1 cells. Cell viability was assessed following 24- and 48-hour treatments with SA (10 µg/mL), SA1–SA4 (10 µM), and abiraterone (10 µM) using the Alamar Blue assay. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina, and pharmacokinetic predictions were performed using the Protox servers.SA exhibited potent cytotoxicity, reducing LNCaP viability to 9.54 ± 5.59% and VCaP to 25.36 ± 0.52%. Friedelin showed stronger effects in VCaP (19.38 ± 0.14%) than LNCaP (73.99 ± 0.28%). The friedelin/friedelinol mixture and β-sitosterol were effective in LNCaP (38.55 ± 0.43%, 14.24 ± 0.09%) and VCaP (22.83 ± 0.16%, 25.50 ± 0.59%). In androgen-independent lines, SA reduced 22Rv1 viability to 37.63 ± 0.97%, with weaker effects in PC-3 (72.15 ± 1.06%) and DU-145 (91.00 ± 0.75%). Minimal impact on RWPE-1 (60–85% viability) indicated selectivity for cancer cells. Molecular docking revealed favourable binding to ARccr:1GS4(ΔG -6.7 to -9.4 kcal/mol), suggesting potential efficacy against castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).Pharmacokinetic predictions indicated low toxicity and suitable physicochemical properties. These findings support S. ataxacantha and its triterpenoids as promising candidates for prostate cancer management, and merit further mechanistic, in-vivo, and clinical studies.