UHPLC-ESI-ms/ms-based characterisation of phenolics and flavonoids in hydroalcoholic extract of Clitoria ternatea seeds and their cytotoxic potential against breast and pancreatic cancer

Fourteen known phenolics (1-14) and ten known flavonoids (15-24) were identified in the hydroalcoholic extract of Clitoria ternatea seeds. Phenolics such as gentisic acid (3), protocatechuic acid (5), o-coumaric acid (12) and p-coumaric acid (13) and among flavonoids, myricetin (16) were detected as the major compounds. The compounds were determined simultaneously in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the Acquity UPLC-H class coupled with TQD-MS/MS with an ESI source. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined. The hydroalcoholic extract evaluated for its cytotoxic effect against breast (MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic (PANC-1) cancer cells showed significant (p < 0.05) cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 45.4 and 96.5 µg/mL respectively. In addition, the cancer cells treated with the crude extract also showed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), upregulated caspase -8/-9/-3 activities and apoptosis of cells treated with C. ternatea extracts compared to control suggesting the pharmacological importance of this herb.