Phytochemical Profile and Anticancer Activity of <i>Achillea conferta</i> Leaf Extracts: Insights Into Antioxidant Properties

This study explores the phytochemical composition and biological potential of extracts from Achillea conferta leaves, specifically hydroethanolic extract (HE), total flavonoid extract (TFE), and glycoside flavonoid extract (GFE). Phytochemical screening of HE revealed significant concentrations of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins, quantified as 48.36 µg GAE/mL extract, 32.40 µg QE/mL extract, and 4.85 µg TAE/mL extract, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography identified key flavonoids in TFE and GFE, including catechin, epigallocatechin, hesperidin, myricetin, rutin, isorhamnetin, and luteolin. Antioxidant activities were assessed using assays for reactive oxygen species (ROS), total peroxides, and free radical scavenging (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). GFE demonstrated the highest ROS concentration at 269 µM/g extract. The antiproliferative effects on breast, esophageal, and large intestine cancer cell lines were evaluated, with GFE showing greater efficacy than TFE in all tested cell lines, highlighting the therapeutic potential of A. conferta extracts. These findings highlight the medicinal potential of A. conferta as a natural source of antioxidants and anticancer agents. However, further research is necessary to explore detailed mechanistic pathways and the in vivo efficacy of these extracts.