Aman A Ishaqat, Rana Abu-Dahab, Hana M Hammad, Malek Al-Zihlif, Ismail F Abaza, Zeyad D Nassar and Fatma U Afifi
Elaeagnus angustifolia L. has a long history of use in ethnopharmacology. Only few studies examined the potential activities of the leaves. Furthermore, the leaves’ chemical composition was not fully investigated. In this study, the chemical composition of E. angustifolia leaves extract was analysed and major compounds were isolated and identified. Extract obtained by maceration was further extracted with solvents differing in their polarity then submitted to open column chromatography, followed by isolation of major compounds. They were analysed using UV-Vis and/or NMR. One terpene (β-sitosterol) and four flavonoids (chrysin-7-glucoside, rutin, luteolin and kaempferol) were isolated and identified. For the biological activities, leaves were extracted using ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and water. Anti-angiogenic activity was studied by rat aortic ring assay. Anti-proliferative activity was studied against MCF-7 and T-47D breast cancer cell lines. Ethyl acetate extract was found cytotoxic against T-47D breast cancer cell line (IC50=23.05 μg/mL). Potent anti-angiogenic activity of ethanol-(IC50=3.039 μg/mL), ethyl acetate- (IC50=6.289 μg/mL) and water-extract (IC50=7.153 μg/mL) was reported for the first time.