Integrative Metabolomics, Genomics, and Transcriptomics Analysis Unravels Anti-Cancer Potential of Secondary Metabolites in Dillenia Suffruticosa

Abstract The genus Dillenia, native to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean islands tropics, lacks genomic information despite its wide-ranging medicinal and ornamental applications. This study presents a comprehensive genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics profiling of Dillenia suffruticosa which is widely used in the local populace and highly regenerative in secondary forests of Brunei Darussalam. The assembled genome spans a size of 596 Mb (N50: 20.8 Mb) with 30,490 genes. Multi-omics profiling revealed metabolites were discovered in D. suffruticosa, including phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, alongside their biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, the study examined the cytotoxic effects of D. suffruticosa extracts on ten types of cancer cell lines. The findings indicate that extracts derived from the root organ, which contains higher levels of terpenoids trigger cancer cell death through the NF-kB pathway. In conclusion, this study enriches the chemogenomic and plant metabolites understanding of D. suffruticosa for pharmacological applications in a multidisciplinary approach.