Abstract

Buckwheat has been used in Chinese traditional medicine or dietary treat against various kinds of cancer for several decades. Germination method was used to elevate the nutritional value of flavonoids in tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn) sprouts. To examine the growth inhibitory effects of tartary buckwheat flavonoid extracts (BWFEs), MTT assay was applied to detect the cell viability of mammary cancer MCF-7 cells. Several sample of BWFEs revealed strong inhibitory activity, and the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀s) were separately determined. For further verification of the cytotoxic action of BWFEs on MCF-7 cells, cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were measured by flow cytometry. An in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was also tested, BWFEs showed obvious angiogenesis inhibitory activity on the formation of micro blood vessels. According to these data, we conclude that BWFEs extracted from malting tartary buckwheat seeds demonstrate significant inhibitory activity on the growth of MCF-7 cancer cells, therefore, BWFEs can be further explored for antitumor therapy or functional food additives.

Key words: Buckwheat flavonoid extracts (BWFEs), anti-infection, germinated sprouts, mammary cancer, antitumor activity, cell apoptosis.