Modulation of Apoptotic and Survival-Related Genes by Rambutan Peel Polyphenolic Extract in HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells

Natural polyphenolic compounds have demonstrated anticancer potential through their ability to modulate key molecular pathways. This research explores the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of rambutan peel polyphenolic extract (RPPE) on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and normal human dermal fibroblasts cells (HDF). HeLa and HDF cells were treated with increasing concentrations of RPPE (50–200 µg/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Morphological changes were examined via light microscopy. Expression levels of genes related to apoptosis (p53, bax), survival (akt, bcl2), and cell cycle regulation (p21) were analyzed by RT-qPCR. RPPE significantly reduces HeLa cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while exhibiting minimal cytotoxicity effects on HDF cells. Morphological evaluation of HeLa cells revealed apoptosis features, including cell shrinkage and detachment. Gene ex-pression analysis showed upregulation of p53, bax, and p21, and alongside downregula-tion of bcl2 and akt in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that RPPE induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells with negligible transcriptional impact on HDF cells. In conclusion, RPPE exhibits selective cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects against HeLa cells. These results highlight RPPE has potential as a natural source of anticancer agent.