A chemical investigation of Anaxagorea dolichocarpa Sprague & Sandwith, a member of Annonaceae family, was carried out. The ethanolic extract from the roots of this plant led, by chromatography tecniches, to isolation of the new azaphenanthrene alkaloids dolichocarpine (1) and 9-methoxyeupolauramine (2), besides the known alkaloids eupolauramine (3), 3-methoxyeupolauridine (4), eupolauramine (5) and 4-methylsampangine (6). The structures of isolated compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, tandem MSn and IR data. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1 - 5 was evaluated against HCT-116 (human colorectal carcinoma) and L929 (murine fibroblast) cell lines.

The secondary metabolites of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus acuminatus Vahl (Phyllanthaceae) and the biological activity of one of them were characterized in this study. This chemical investigation led to isolation of two lignans, luclaricin (1), a new arylnaphtalene-typelignan, and justicidin B (2). The structures of isolated compounds were determined based on 1D and 2D-NMR, HRESIMS and IR. The cytotoxic activity of justicidin B was assessed against tumor cell lines (MCF-7, U251, NCI-ADR/RES, NCI-H460, OVCAR-3, HT29 and K562) and a non-tumor cell line (HaCat) using sulforhodamine B assay. Justicidin B showed strong cytotoxic activity against the tumor cell lines HT29, K562 and U251 with GI50 values of 2.28, 3.29 and 5.76 mol L-1, respectively.

ABSTRACT The secondary metabolites of the aerial parts of Zornia brasiliensis Vogel, Fabaceae, and the biological activity of one of these secondary metabolites were characterized in this study. A phytochemical investigation was performed using chromatographic techniques including analytical and preparative reverse-phase HPLC column sequences, which resulted in the isolation of fourteen compounds: one previously undescribed C-glycosylated dihydrochalcone (zornioside), one cyclitol (D-pinitol), one glycosylated megastigmane (roseoside) and eleven phenolic compounds: 7-methoxyflavanone, 7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone, medicarpin, 2'-4'-dihydroxychalcone, onionin, isoorientin-3'-O-methyl ether, isovitexin, glycosylated (Z)-O-coumaric acid, glycosylated (E)-O-coumaric acid, dihydromelilotoside, and isoorientin. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on 1D and 2D-NMR, HRESIMS, IR and CD spectroscopic analyses. The cytotoxic activity of zornoside was assessed against tumor cell lines (MCF-7, HCC1954, T-47D, 4T1, HL60), and a non-tumor cell line (RAW264.7) using MTT assay. The compound zornioside was selectively cytotoxic for HL60 leukemia cells (IC50: 37.26 µM).

ABSTRACT The essential oil from Croton polyandrus Spreng., Euphorbiaceae, leaves was tested for the toxicity and antitumor activity. The concentration producing 50% hemolysis was 141 µg/ml on mice erythrocytes. In the acute toxicological study, the estimated LD50 was 447.18 mg/kg. The essential oil did not induce increase in number of micronucleated erythrocytes, suggesting low genotoxicity. Essential oil (100 or 150 mg/kg) showed significant antitumor activity in Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma model. We observed that essential oil induces cell-cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, and increases the sub-G1 peak, which represents a marker of cell death by apoptosis. Survival also increased for the treated animals. The toxicological analyses revealed reduction in body weight, increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activity, hematological changes, and a thymus index reduction. These data suggest gastrointestinal and liver toxicity, anemia, leukopenia/lymphocytopenia, and immunosuppressive effects. Histopathological analysis revealed the weak hepatotoxicity of essential oil. In summary, essential oil of C. polyandrus displays in vivo antitumor activity and moderate toxicity.