Antiproliferative Activity of Extracts Containing Flavonoids from In Vitro Callus Cultures of Astragalus onobrychis

Astragalusonobrychis L., Fabaceae, is a perennial herbaceous plant with a strong taproot and reaches a height of 10-60 cm. The stems have a woody base and grow first spreading and then ascending. The chemical composition of has not been fully studied. So far, the detected metabolites primarily include flavonoids and saponins. Species of the genus Astragalus have been studied and shown a range of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antitumor, cardioprotective, and antidiabetic. In traditional medicine, A. onobrychis is used as a diuretic and diaphoretic agent and as a remedy for rheumatic diseases. The aim of the present study was to obtain valuable information on the secondary metabolites related to flavonoids from in vitro callus and shoot cultures of A. onobrychis. Five fractions were obtained from the methanolic extracts (70% MeOH) of callus and shoot cultures of A. onobrychis after column chromatography, each of which was subjected to ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis (UHPLC-HR-MS). The antiproliferative capacity of each fraction was also evaluated. Based on the mass spectral fragmentation data, use of standards, and comparison with literature sources, 15 flavonoid derivatives were dereplicated.