Two flavonoids from the leaves of Morus alba induce differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell line.

Two flavonoids, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and quercetin-3,7-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from the leaves of Morus alba (Moraceae). These two flavonoids exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60) at the concentration of 2 x 10(-4) M. Compound 2 also induced differentiation of the HL-60 cell line to express CD 66b and CD 14 antigens. These flavonoids exhibited significant free radical scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical.