13585 10.30848/PJB2026-8(4) <p> Selective cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of <em>Cecropia pachystachya </em>Tr&eacute;cul in human lung cancer cells</p> Arina Lázaro Rochetti, Pedro Luiz Porfírio Xavier, Pedro Ratto Lisboa Pires, Claudia Do Carmo Maquiaveli, Edson Roberto Da Silva, Alia Gul, Talal Jamil Qazi and Heidge Fukumasu <p style="text-align: justify;"> <em>Cecropia pachystachya Tr&eacute;cul, also known as embauba of the family Urticaceae, is traditionally used in Brazilian medicine to manage diabetes, asthma, and cough.</em> Previous studies have highlighted its diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, leishmanicidal, antidepressant-like, antioxidant, and antinociceptive effects. However, its antineoplastic potential remains unexplored. This study investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of <em>C. pachystachya</em> extract (CPE) on human lung cancer cell lines (H460, A549, and H2023) and non-tumorigenic human foreskin fibroblasts (BJ cells). The extract exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity across all cancer cell lines while sparing non-cancerous BJ cells. Further analyses using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining indicated that the observed cytotoxicity was mediated through the induction of apoptosis rather than necrosis. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) analysis identified chlorogenic acid (48%) and orientin (2.9%) as the major constituents of CPE. These findings suggest that <em>C. pachystachya</em> harbors bioactive compounds with selective anticancer properties, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Published 2026 58 8 1833 1839