Investigating the phytochemical content and anticancer properties of the endemic plant of Cyprus Bosea cypria

Bosea cypria , locally known on the island as “zoulatzia,” is an evergreen endemic shrub that grows in rocky terrains, up to 600 m altitude. Taxonomically, it belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is one of the only three species (all endemic) of the Bosea genus found worldwide. In this study, the phytochemical composition of different botanical parts of the plant (leaves, stems, fruits) was examined, along with its variation based on collection site (Potamos Liopetriou 15 m, Pelathousa 300 m, Kritou Terra 430 m). Moreover, the anticancer properties of selected extracts were investigated using the MTT assay on two breast cancer lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). Phytochemical analysis revealed that both the plant part and, secondarily, the collection site determine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. Notably, the interaction between these two factors significantly influences the phytochemical content of the extracts. Extracts from plant samples collected at Potamos Liopetriou and Pelathousa exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content but lower tannin concentrations compared to those from Kritou Terra. Leaves showed the highest concentrations in all measured parameters, followed by stems and fruits in descending order. Regarding the MTT assay results, the two selected extracts from leaves and stems revealed dose- and time-dependent effects on both cancer cell lines, with a pronounced reduction in cell viability observed in the more sensitive cell line (MCF-7) at both 24 and 48 hours of incubation (reduction>40%, p