en گياهان دارویی Medicinal Plants پژوهشی Research <div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="color:black">Background:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="color:black"> <i>Equisetum arvense</i> L. (Horsetail) is a medicinal perennial herb widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Traditionally utilized for gastrointestinal, renal, and musculoskeletal disorders, its specific alkaloid profile and associated anticancer properties (particularly regarding regional chemotypes) remain understudied. <b>Objective:</b> This study evaluated the phytochemical composition of alkaloids isolated from <i>E. arvense</i> growing in northern Iraq and evaluated their cytotoxic potential against three human cancer cell lines (HePG2, WRL68, and SK-GT2) alongside a normal cell line (REF). <b>Methods:</b> Purified alkaloids were extracted from <i>E. arvense</i> and subjected to qualitative and quantitative chemical profiling. Cytotoxicity was evaluated across a concentration range of 25 to 1600 &mu;g/ml at multiple exposure intervals using standard cell viability assays. <b>Results:</b> Chromatographic analysis identified five distinct alkaloids: hordenine (426.4 &mu;g/g), caulerpin (324.1 &mu;g/g), martensine (139.3 &mu;g/g), isoquinoline (139.1 &mu;g/g), and almazolone (77.6 &mu;g/g). The total alkaloid extract demonstrated concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity across all cancerous cell lines (P < 0.05). Following 24 hours of exposure at 1600 &mu;g/ml, maximum growth inhibition was observed in HePG2 (78.90 %) and SK-GT2 (77.40 %) cells, with moderate inhibition in WRL68 cells (39.90 %). Notably, no significant cytotoxic effect was observed against the normal REF cell line. <b>Conclusion:</b> The alkaloid fraction of <i>E. arvense</i> native to northern Iraq exhibits selective cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines while sparing normal cells, supporting its potential as a source for natural lead compounds in oncology drug discovery.</span></span></span></div> Equisetum arvense, Alkaloids, Cytotoxicity, Cancer cell lines, Iraqi flora, Phytochemical profiling 54 64 http://jmp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-6860-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Hadeel M. Habeeb shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050166 100319475328460050166 No Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Sumaya F. Hamad shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050167 100319475328460050167 No Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Shaymaa Al-Majmaie shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050168 100319475328460050168 Yes Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq Ghussun S. Salih shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050169 100319475328460050169 No Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Ismail A. Murtadeh shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050170 100319475328460050170 No Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Zainab Anwar shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050171 100319475328460050171 No Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Ibraheem Hadi shaymaa@uodiyala.edu.iq 100319475328460050172 100319475328460050172 No Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq