Flower extracts of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim inhibit the proliferation of the NCI-H460 tumour cell line

Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim (meadowsweet) is a popular medicinal species that can be found throughout most Europe and Asia. The plant is known for its rich antioxidants content, having compounds such as flavonoids and ascorbic acid. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate if the flower extracts of F. ulmaria (L.) Maxim have cell growth inhibitory activity in three human tumour cell lines representative of non-small cell lung cancer (NCI-H460), melanoma (A375-C5) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7). One of the most potent extracts was selected to be further studied in the NCI-H460 cells, by investigating its antiproliferative potential, the effect on cell cycle profile and on programmed cell death. The obtained results showed that all the extracts inhibited the growth of the mentioned cell lines, with the one obtained by decoction being the most potent. Its effect on the NCI-H460 cells was due to a reduction in cellular proliferation, but not to alterations in programmed cell death. Interestingly, cellular treatment with the extract caused a statistically significant increase in the cellular levels of p21. Data obtained highlight the potential interest of F. ulmaria as a source of bioactive compounds.