LC-ESI-MS/MS and cytotoxic activity of three <i>Pistacia</i> species

Abstract

LC-ESI-MS/MS was used for a comprehensive characterisation of ethanol extract from the leaves of three <i>Pistacia</i> species. After optimisation of the method and the use of the negative ionisation mode, a total of 42 different compounds were identified, of which 22 were tentatively characterised in <i>P. chinensis</i> Bunge<i>,</i> 33 in <i>P. khinjuk</i> stocks and 25 in <i>P. lentiscus</i> L. leaves. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives were the most abundant identified compounds<i>.</i> LC-ESI-MS/MS revealed identification of 15, 18 and 6 not previously detected compounds in <i>P. chinensis</i> Bunge, <i>P. khinjuk</i> Stocks and <i>P. lentiscus</i> L., respectively. The three extracts were also tested for their cytotoxic activities against human PC3 prostate cancer, A549 lung cancer, MCF7 breast cancer and HepG2 liver cancer. Generally, all the extracts have a moderate cytotoxic activity against lung, breast and prostate cancer, with different IC₅₀. However, only <i>P. lentiscus</i> L. showed moderate activity against liver cancer.