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ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS EXHIBITS ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND SELECTIVE CYTOTOXICITY IN PANC-1 CANCER CELLS COMPARED TO HEPARG HEPATOCYTES

CRISTINA DAN 1#, BOGDAN ALMAJAN-GUTA 2#, ALINA ARABELA JOJIĆ 3,4*, STEFANIA- IRINA DUMITREL 3,5, IASMINA-ALEXANDRA PREDESCU 3,5, DIANA-SIMONA TCHIAKPE- ANTAL 3,4,5, ANDREEA SMEU 3,5, ROBERT JIJIE 3,5, IOANA IONITA 6,7, ANA-CRISTIANE DRAGOMIR 1, SIMONA ARDELEAN 8, ADRIANA DĂRĂBAN 8

1 Doctoral School, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
2 Department of Physical Therapy and Special Motricity, West University of Timișoara, 300223, Timișoara, Romania
3 Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
4 Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
5 Research Centre for Pharmacotoxicologic Evaluations (FARMTOX), “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
6 First Department of Internal Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
7 Department of Haematology, Emergency Municipal Hospital Timișoara, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
8 Faculty of Pharmacy, “Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, 94 Revoluției Boulevard, 310130, Arad, Romania

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Pancreatic cancer remains a significant public health burden due to the challenges of detection in the early stages, which contribute to its low rate of survival. Furthermore, treatment options are limited and often accompanied by increased toxicity. For this reason, the need for safer alternatives is in continuous research. Juniperus communis is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds that have been traditionally used for their therapeutic effects. However, its anticancer potential is still being explored. This study investigated the antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of a JCo ethanolic extract, focusing on its selective cytotoxic effects on pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) and healthy human primary hepatocytes (HepaRG) cell lines. LC- MS/MS analysis was also used to identify key phytochemicals in the plant – isoquercitrin, hyperoside, quercitrin, and rutin, which are known for their multiple therapeutic properties. The antimicrobial potential was also evaluated using disk diffusion and MIC methods, revealing significant activity against Streptococcus pyogenes. The extract showed cytotoxic effects against the PANC-1 cell line in a dose-dependent manner at the intermediate and the highest concentration tested. In contrast, on HepaRG, it presented a stimulatory effect at all concentrations. Morphological and nuclear staining analyses confirmed apoptotic-like changes, especially at higher doses. The HET-CAM assay confirmed its non-irritant nature, supporting its safety for potential use in several therapeutic applications.