In vitro cytotoxicity of flavonoids against MK2 and C6 tumour cells

The cytotoxic effect of five flavonoids isolated from the aerial parts of t he Asteraceae family of plants were studied in vitro using LLC-MK2 and C6 g lial cells. Agehoustin A was shown to be cytotoxic for both cells (71% or 6 7% cell death). Agehoustin B and artemetin, which lack a methoxy group at C -8 (RI), were not cytotoxic for the cells (19% and 16% cell death). The thr ee flavonoids showed considerable suppressive effects on LLC-MK2 and C6 cel l growth. Lucidin-dimethylether and gnaphaliin were also not cytotoxic for cells but they had no suppressive effect on cell growth. The results show a structure-cytostatic activity relationship, We suggest that the methoxy gr oup on C-8 and on the B ring are responsible for death cell. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.