Cytotoxic triterpenes from the aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa.

Abstract

Six triterpenes, 3beta-acetoxy-12,19-dioxo-13(18)-oleanene (1), 3beta-acetoxy-19(29)-taraxasten-20alpha-ol (2), 3beta-acetoxy-21alpha,22alpha-epoxytaraxastan-20alpha-ol (3), 3,22-dioxo-20-taraxastene (4), 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha,12alpha-epoxy-16-oxo-14-taraxerene (5), 3beta-acetoxy-25-methoxylanosta-8,23-diene (6) along with nine known triterpenes, 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha,12alpha-epoxy-14-taraxerene (7), 3beta-acetoxy-25-hydroxylanosta-8,23-diene (8), oleanonic acid (9), acetylbetulinic acid (10), betulonic acid (11), acetylursolic acid (12), ursonic acid (13), ursolic acid (14), and 3-oxofriedelan-28-oic acid (15) were isolated from the aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa, and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro cytotoxic efficacy of these triterpenes was investigated using three human cancer cell lines, namely, HONE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, KB oral epidermoid carcinoma, and HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells. Compound 8 and pentacyclic triterpenes 9-15 possessing a carboxylic acid functionality at C-28 showed significant cytotoxic activities against the aforementioned cell lines and gave IC50 values in the range 4.0-9.4 microM.

• Authors: Yi-Ming Chiang, Jang-Yang Chang, Ching-Chuan Kuo, Chi-Yen Chang, Yueh-Hsiung Kuo
• Journal: Phytochemistry (Phytochemistry) Vol. 66 Issue 4 Pg. 495-501 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0031-9422 [Print] England
• PMID: 15694457 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Triterpenes

Topics

• Air
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Ficus (chemistry)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Molecular Structure
• Plant Components, Aerial (chemistry)
• Plant Roots (chemistry)
• Triterpenes (chemistry, isolation & purification, toxicity)