Flavonoids from the Aerial Parts of Artemisia biennis Willd

Background: The current phytochemical study was carried out on a fraction of dried polar extract of aerial parts of Artemisia biennis Willd. which was previously reported to decrease the viability of the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 in cell-based antioxidant assays. Methods: A combination of solid phase extraction (SPE) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the hydroethanolic extract was used to purify the compounds. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic means, including 1H-NMR and MS analyses. Results: Three isolated and identified flavonoids in this study were luteolin, kaempferol and apigenin. Conclusion: The cytotoxic potential of flavone aglycones, as the major components of selected fraction in the hydroethanolic extract of A. biennis might partly be related to the high death rate of PC12 cells.