Catechin, rutin and quercetin in Quercus mongolica Fisch leaves exert inhibitory effects on multiple cancer cells

Abstract

We aimed to identify anti‐tumor agents in Quercus mongolica Fisch (QMF). Bioactive compounds in QMF leaves, which were extracted using ethanol as a co‐solvent. Five point zero six grams of flavonoids were obtained from 100 g of QMF leaves. Catechin (18.4%), rutin (6.3%), ellagic acid (34.9%), quercetin (5.1%) and kaempferol (20.6%) are the main ingredients of the extracts and were further purified by HPLC. CCK‐8 cell proliferation assay showed that catechin and ellagic acid exerted strong inhibitory effects on the proliferation of all cancer cells with lower IC50 values against MCF‐7 human breast cancer cell lines, SMMC‐7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell lines and SKOV3 human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (p < .05). Catechin, rutin and quercetin induced a higher rate of apoptosis and inhibited all cancer cell proliferation by inducing the G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase arrest (p < .05). However, ellagic acid induced tumor cell death, not through apoptosis and there may be other molecular mechanisms. High levels of catechin and ellagic acid in QMF can be developed as potential drugs to treat different types of cancer cells. Practical applications Quercus species have been widely studied because of their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti‐tumor properties. Bioactive compounds in the leaves of Quercus mongolica Fisch have high levels of catechin and ellagic acid, which exert significant inhibitory properties on the proliferation of various types of cancer cells. Therefore, the bioactive compounds may be potential natural drugs in the prevention of cancer development and progression.

Positive effects of rutin on female reproduction

“…These observations suggest that the stimulatory action of rutin on ovaries could be mediated by promotion of proliferation and suppression of apoptosis through changes in PTEN/FOXO3a pathway. The stimulatory action of rutin on ovarian cells via up-regulation of their proliferation and down-regulation of their apoptosis was confirmed by ability of rutin to inhibit proliferation of cultured human ovarian cancer cells (Luo et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2022) probably via MAPK-3-dependent mechanisms (Taherkhani et al, 2023), as well as to promote accumulation of PCNA and to suppress accumulation of bax in cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells (Sirotkin et al, 2020,b). On the other hand, in other similar experiments, rutin was able to increase viability of cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells without changes in these markers of proliferation and mitochondrial apoptosis (Sirotkin et al, 2021) indicating that in some conditions rutin could support ovarian cell functions via intracellular mechanisms not related to proliferation and mitochondrial apoptosis.…”

“…Rutin solubility in water, accumulation in target tissues and bioavailability are relatively low (lower, than those of its analogue quercetin), and its metabolism and the excretion of it and its metabolites by urine and faeces are relatively high (Budzynska et al., 2019; Ganeshpurkar & Saluja, 2017; Long et al., 2020; Luca et al., 2020; Sharma et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2022). Already several hours after rutin ingestion, human plasma contained no rutin, but only its metabolites (glucuronides and/or sulphates) (Erlund et al., 2000).…”

“…On the other hand, it suggests also the applicability of rutin for prevention and treatment of such reproductive disorders as reproductive aging (Wu et al., 2023), cancer (de Araújo et al., 2013; Luo et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2022), ischaemia (Nayki et al., 2018), polycystic ovarian syndrome (Hu et al., 2017; Jahan et al., 2016), and adverse effects of chemotherapy (Lins et al., 2020), nanoparticles (Sirotkin, Radosová, et al., 2020), benzene (Sirotkin, Záhoranska, et al., 2020) and toluene (Sirotkin et al., 2021). Rutin influence on reproductive hormones (Hu et al., 2017; Jahan et al., 2016; Sirotkin et al., 2021; Sirotkin, Radosová, et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2018), cytokines and prostaglandin (Guo et al., 2014; Nayki et al., 2018) indicates its potential applicability for prevention and treatment of some endocrine disorders too.…”

“…The ability of rutin to suppress development of neurodegenerative disorders, cancer and bacterial cells could be determined by its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory, and metal‐chelating activities, as well as by its ability to affect regulators of cell proliferation and apoptosis (Budzynska et al., 2019; Enogieru et al., 2018; Farha et al., 2020; Habtemariam, 2016; Simunkova et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2022; Yong et al., 2020). For example, it can down‐regulate the pro‐inflammatory transcription factor NF‐kB, proinflammatory cytokines interleukins‐1b and ‐18, activate antioxidant enzymes and proliferation‐promoting mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐lipid kinase and tyrosine kinase‐dependent signalling pathways, downregulation of mRNA expression of proapoptotic genes, upregulation of the ion transport and antiapoptotic genes, activation of anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic transcription factor p53, induction of autophagy, and restoration of the activities of mitochondrial complex enzymes (Enogieru et al., 2018; Farha et al., 2020; Imani et al., 2021; Nouri et al., 2020; Simunkova et al., 2019; Yi, 2018).…”

“…Effects of rutin have been summarized in several reviews (Ganeshpurkar & Saluja, 2017; Negahdari et al., 2021; Sharma et al., 2013; Yong et al., 2020). Nevertheless, the main previous studies and the resulting reviews were focused on application of rutin as a drug for the treatment of particular illnesses – diabetes (Ghorbani, 2017), cancer (Farha et al., 2020; Imani et al., 2021; Nouri et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2022) and neurodegenerative disorders (Budzynska et al., 2019; Enogieru et al., 2018; Habtemariam, 2016). To our knowledge, the available information concerning rutin action on female reproductive processes has not been summarized yet.…”