Triterpenoids and Steroids from the Fruits of Melia toosendan and Their Cytotoxic Effects on Two Human Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Ten new triterpenoids, named meliasenins I-R (1-10), one new steroid (11), and 11 related known compounds (12-22) were isolated from fruits of Melia toosendan. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The relative configuration of 1, (20R*,23E)-25-hydroperoxyeupha-7,23-diene-3β,16β-diol (meliasenin I), was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All isolated triterpenoids (1-10, 12-15) and two steroids (11, 20) were tested for their cytotoxicity against U20S human osteosarcoma and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells using the MTT assay, and some of them were significantly cytotoxic (IC(50) <10 μg/mL). The insecticidal properties of compounds 1-15 and 20 were also briefly evaluated.

Five Withanolides from the Leaves of Datura metel L. and Their Inhibitory Effects on Nitric Oxide Production

“…Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay as described previously [26,27]. In brief, RAW 264.7 cells were seeded into a 96-well plate at a density of 1.0 × 10 5 cells per well and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. The cells were then treated with various concentrations of the samples.…”

Cancer Preventive and Therapeutic Properties of Fruits and Vegetables Against Commonly Occurring Cancers in Humans

“…7 The results showed that the treatment of cells with sulforaphane generated a concentration-and time-dependent inhibition of cell growth and the G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle. Moreover, sulforaphane treatment resulted in a decrease in protein expression of cyclin A and B1 and their activating partners, cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) 1 and 2, with concomitant upregulation of p21, a Cdk inhibitor.…”

“…In addition, several other studies have shown that the phytochemicals present in fruits and vegetables have great potential in the prevention and treatment of bone cancer. [7][8][9] …”

Neolignans, lignans and glycoside from the fruits of Melia toosendan

“…The fruits of M. toosendan ("Chuan-Lian-Zi" in Chinese) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recorded in Pharmacopoeia of China and has been used as an antiparasitic and analgesic agent [1][2][3]. Previous phytochemical studies on different parts of M. toosendan have led to reports of a series of highly functionalized limonoids, euphane-and tirucallane-type triterpenoids, steroids and lignans [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. The lipophilic phytochemicals of this species have been extensively investigated in recent years, while the hydrophilic constituents were rarely reported [21].…”