Cancer Chemopreventive in vitro Activities of Isoflavones Isolated from Iris germanica

Abstract

Six known isoflavones were isolated from the rhizomes of Iris germanica, and were established by UV, MS and NMR techniques as irisolidone (1), irisolidone 7-O-alpha-D-glucoside (1a), irigenin (2), irilone (3), iriflogenin (4), and iriskashmirianin (5). These compounds were examined for their cancer chemopreventive potential. They were shown to be potent inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A activity with IC 50 values in the range 0.25-4.9 microM. The isoflavones 2, 3 and 5 displayed moderate activity as inducers of NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (QR) in cultured mouse Hepa 1c1c7 cells, with CD values (concentration required to double the specific activity of QR) of 3.5-16.7 microM, whereas weak activity was observed with compounds 4 and 5 in the radical (DPPH) scavenging bioassay (IC 50 values 89.6 and 120.3 microM, respectively). With respect to anti-tumor promoting potential based on anti-inflammatory mechanisms, none of the compounds demonstrated significant activity in the concentration range tested.

Isoflavones and Other Compounds from the Roots of Iris marsica I. Ricci E Colas. Collected from Majella National Park, Italy

“…During the chromatographic run, the polarity of the eluting solution was raised in order to let the elution of the most polar compounds and so this became a solution of n-butanol, methanol and distilled water at concentration 70/10/30 (v/v/v). From this chromatographic separation, twelve compounds were identified: tristearoyl-sn-glycerol (1) and 1-margaroyl-2-lauroyl-3-palmitoyl-snglycerol (2) [30] as a mixture in ratio 2:1 from the assembly of fractions 1-5 for the total weight of 36.6 mg; nigricin 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10) [27] as almost pure compound from fraction 36 for the weight of 135.8 mg; glucose (15) and phenylalanine (19) [31] as a mixture in ratio 5:1 from the assembly of fractions 61-70 for the total weight of 81.4 mg; glucose (15), sucrose (16), raffinose (17), lactic acid (18), isoleucine (20) and valine (21) [31] in mixture (ratio not detectable) from the assembly of fractions 91-165 for the total weight of 217.2 mg.…”

“…The initial one was 97/3 (v/v) but during the chromatographic run, this was changed in order to raise the polarity of the solution passing to 95/5 (v/v), 9/1 (v/v), 8/2 (v/v), 7/3 (v/v) and lastly, 6/4 (v/v). From this chromatographic separation seven compounds were identified: irigenin S (8) [25] in mixture with irisolidone (5) [17] in ratio 3:1 from fraction 3 for the weight of 6.8 mg; nigricin (6) [32], irigenin (7) as to cure many diseases affecting liver, lungs and uteri and to treat hemorrhoids [19]. Yet this is also true in China where particular species of Iris are utilized to treat coughing and pharyngitis [20,21] and also to reduce inflammation and relieve respiratory disorders [22].…”

Iris Nertschinskia Ethanol Extract Differentially Induces Cytotoxicity in Human Breast Cancer Cells Depending on AKT1/2 Activity

“…Several Iris species, including Iris tectorum, Iris germanica and Iris missouriensis, have attracted the attention of researchers in the oncology field (Wong et al, 1986;Tan et al, 2001;Wollenweber et al, 2003;Rui et al, 2008). However, there are no studies on the anticancer activities of Iris nertschinskia, traditionally used in East Asian medicine for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.…”

An ethanol extract of Iris nertschinskia induces p53-dependent apoptosis in the MCF7 human breast cancer cell line

“…In particular, a variety of Iris species are potent anti-cancer agents (6)(7)(8)(9)(10). For example, Iris tectorum, introduced as a remedy in the first Chinese monograph on herbal medicine, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in McF7 and c32 cell lines (6,7).…”

“…For example, Iris tectorum, introduced as a remedy in the first Chinese monograph on herbal medicine, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in McF7 and c32 cell lines (6,7). Additionally, Iris germanica and Iris missouriensis display anti-tumor activities (9,10).…”