ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Integrated study on kaempferol’s efficacy and mechanism of action: targeting Escherichia coli biofilms and colon cancer pathways alongside oxidative stress regulation

Akram B. Sultan, Mostafa Ibrahim Abdelglil, Alzhraa Ali Mohamed, Eman M. Haggag, Gehan El-Akabawy, Dalia Kamal Rawy, Amira A. Ibrahim, Khaled Haidar, Nermeen Foda, and Mohamed Abdel-Haleem

Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia

E-mail: asultan@ub.edu.sa

Received: 28 November 2025  Accepted: 28 February 2026

Abstract:

Kaempferol is a naturally occurring flavonoid reported to possess various biological activities, including anticancer and antibacterial effects. Considering the reported association between bacterial infections and colorectal cancer, this study investigated the anticancer, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities of kaempferol using in vitro and in silico approaches. The antiproliferative activity of kaempferol was evaluated against human colon cancer cell lines (HCT116 and Caco-2), where a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability was observed, while comparatively higher IC₅₀ values were obtained in normal cells. Molecular docking analyses were conducted to explore potential interactions between kaempferol and selected cancer-related proteins, providing preliminary, hypothesis-generating insights into possible binding modes without confirming molecular mechanisms. The antibiofilm activity of kaempferol was assessed against Escherichia coli using crystal violet assays, demonstrating inhibition of biofilm formation, while qRT-PCR analysis indicated reduced expression of the virulence genes; docking studies further suggested possible interactions between kaempferol and the corresponding protein. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of kaempferol was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, revealing concentration-dependent radical scavenging and reducing activities. Overall, these findings provide descriptive in vitro evidence supporting the further investigation of kaempferol, while acknowledging the exploratory nature and limitations of the current study.

Keywords: Kaempferol; Cytotoxicity; Escherichia coli; Biofilm inhibition; SfaA gene suppression; Molecular docking; Oxidative stress regulation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04775-9

Chemical Papers 80 (6) 6431–6448 (2026)