Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Isolation and Expansion of Cytotoxic Cytokine-induced Killer T Cells for Cancer Treatment
Published on: January 24, 2020
Cytotoxic Effects of Some Flavonoids and Imatinib on the K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line: Data Analysis Using
Ferdane Danışman Kalındemirtaş1, Hüsniye Birman1, Eda Candöken2
1Department of Physiology, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
Background:
Flavonoids are natural compounds with antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Aims:
To determine the cytotoxic effects of flavonoids and drug resistance related to P-gp on K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. We also aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of imatinib and flavonoid combinations.
Study Design:
Cell culture study.
Methods:
In this study, K562 cells were treated with apigenin, luteolin, 5-desmethyl sinensetin and the anticancer drug imatinib mesylate. The effect of flavonoids on K562 cell proliferation was detected using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)2,5‑diphenyl‑tetrazolium bromide assay. Concentrations of apigenin, luteolin, and 5-desmethyl sinensetin ranging from 25 to 200 μM and of imatinib from 5 to 50 μM administered for 72 h were studied. Apoptosis/necrosis and P-gp activity were measured using flow cytometry. The combined effects of different concentrations of flavonoids with imatinib were evaluated according to combination index values calculated using CompuSyn software.
Results:
In our study, the IC50 values for apigenin, luteolin, and 5-desmethyl sinensetin were found to be 140 μM, 100 μM, and >200 μM, respectively. Luteolin (100 μM) had the highest cytotoxic activity of these flavonoids. These results were statistically significant (p<0.05). Among the flavonoids studied, the combination of luteolin and imatinib was the most effective and is therefore recommended for its cytotoxic activity in the K562 cell line. After 72 h of incubation at their respective IC50 concentrations, all flavonoids were associated with an apoptosis rate of approximately 50%. P-glycoprotein activity was increased in all groups. Combination treatment may provide better outcomes in terms of cytotoxicity and thus reduce the dosages of imatinib used.
Conclusion:
The combination of some flavonoids and imatinib mesylate may increase the cytotoxic effect; However, the antagonistic effect should be considered in combined use on k562 cells.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Such synergistic combinations...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...
Analysis Methods of Pharmacokinetic Data: Model and Model-Independent Approaches
The model approach uses mathematical models to describe changes in drug concentration over time. Pharmacokinetic models help characterize drug behavior in patients, predict drug concentration in the body fluids, calculate optimum dosage regimens, and evaluate the risk of toxicity. However, ensuring that the model fits the experimental data accurately...
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells
Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data
Effects of EDTA on End-Point Detection Methods
In the visual method, metal-ion indicators (metallochromic dyes), which have distinct colors in their free and complex forms, are added to the mixture to signal the titration's end point. They form stable complexes with metal ions, but these complexes are weaker than the corresponding metal–EDTA complexes. As a...

