UHPLC-MS/MS-GNPS based phytochemical investigation of Equisetum arvense L. And evaluation of cytotoxicity against human melanoma and ovarian cancer cells

Equisetum arvense L. is widely used as a traditional medicine for the management of inflammation and cancer. In the present study, phyto-chemical analysis of E. arvense was carried out and its cytotoxic potential against human melanoma (MDA-MB-435) and ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR3) was evaluated. Phyto-chemical profile of E. arvense methanolic extract and its fractions was established employing UHPLC-MS/MS and Global Natural Product Social molecular networking. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated using absorbance assay (CellTiter-Blue® Cell Viability Assay). Overall, 22 compounds were identified in the crude extract and polarity-based fractions of E. arvense. Flavonoids, flavonoid-O-glycosides and phenolic acids were found to be the major classes of phyto-chemicals. In addition, the crude extract of E. arvense and its fractions were found active against the tested cell lines. The highest anti-cancer activity against OVCAR3 cells was exhibited by the n-hexane fraction. These results indicated that E. arvense is rich in flavonoids and might be used for the development of anti-cancer drugs against melanoma and ovarian cancers.