FLAVONOID GLYCOSIDES FROM CONVOLVULUS ARVENSIS INDUCE SELECTIVE CYTOTOXICITY AND CASPASES-MEDIATED APOPTOSIS IN MCF-7 CELLS
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Objective: This research was an attempt to isolate, characterize and investigate the cytotoxicity of flavonoid glycosides derived from its leaves against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Method: Plant compounds were extracted using 70% ethanol and subsequently fractionated by silica gel column. TLC, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopic methods were employed for phytochemical characterization. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and Vero cell lines. Results: Chromatographic separation resulted in obtaining two glycosides (F2, F1). The UV spectra showed characteristic absorption bands at 270-292 nm and 330 nm, that corresponding for flavonoids structure, whilst FTIR revealed presence of hydroxyl, aromatic and glycosidic functional groups. MCF-7 was sensitive to both fractions in a dose-dependent manner, with F2 exhibiting greater potency (IC50= 33 µg/mL) than F1 (IC50= 42µg/mL). selective anticancer activity indicated by lower toxicity in Vero cells. AO/EB staining demonstrated morphological characteristics of apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation and membrane damage. Moreover, ELISA analyses revealed a significant activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-9 with a pronounced activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Novelty: Convolvulus arvensis can potentially provide natural sources of flavonoid glycosides that may be useful in the treatment of cancer. These results recommend also means that future studies are needed to isolate these active compounds.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anwar Malik Al-Maliky, Zeyad Abdulkadhim Mezyad, Dhamia K. Suker
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