Phytochemical Characterization of Echeveria “Blue Curls” and Its Association With Redox–Metabolic Perturbations in Melanoma Cells

ABSTRACT

Melanoma cells exhibit characteristic vulnerabilities in redox homeostasis and metabolic plasticity, making these processes attractive targets for natural‐product‐based intervention. In the present study, the aqueous extract of Echeveria “Blue Curls” (BCAE) was investigated through integrated phytochemical profiling, computational analysis, and cellular assays in B16‐F10 melanoma cells. Untargeted GC–MS analysis tentatively identified eight putative metabolites, predominantly saccharides and organic acids, while molecular docking generated hypothetical binding models between selected constituents and the catalytic domain of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2). BCAE treatment was associated with reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide, accompanied by changes in NOX2 protein abundance and antioxidant‐related protein expression. These responses coincided with mitochondrial depolarization, altered expression of glycolysis‐, fatty acid oxidation‐, and mitochondrial bioenergetic‐related genes, reduced intracellular lipid accumulation, increased expression of apoptosis‐associated genes, and impaired migratory capacity. In contrast, no significant reduction in cell viability was observed in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts under the same conditions. Collectively, these findings indicate that BCAE exposure is associated with coordinated alterations in redox status, mitochondrial function, and metabolism‐related cellular responses in melanoma cells. Because this study relied primarily on transcriptional profiling, computational prediction, and in vitro analyses, the findings should be regarded as exploratory and hypothesis‐generating.