Polygonum cognatum Meissn. Ethanolic Extract Promotes Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer Cells: Experimental and Docking Study

This study investigated the secondary metabolite profiles of Polygonum cognatum (P. cognatum) extracts obtained using various solvents to evaluate their biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and cytotoxic effects. Both in vitro and in silico approaches were employed, with a particular focus on apoptosis induction in SKOV-3 human ovarian cancer cells. GC–MS analysis of the ethanolic extract identified major constituents, including vitamin E, 1-docosene, and heptacosyl acetate. The ethanolic extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (667.22 mg GAE/g) and demonstrated the most potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Cytotoxicity assays showed a revealed concentration of 25.35 µg/mL in SKOV-3 cells after 72 h. Annexin V staining indicated dose-dependent apoptosis, which was further supported by RT-qPCR data showing upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes and downregulation of BCL2. Molecular docking studies on CASPASE-9 (PDB ID: 5JUY) corroborated these findings, with vitamin E displaying a strong binding affinity (−7.8 kJ/mol), suggesting its potential involvement in apoptosis modulation. Overall, the ethanolic extract of P. cognatum effectively induces intrinsic apoptosis in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells, as evidenced by complementary in vitro and in silico analyses.