title: Antiproliferative activity of diarylheptanoids from the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx.
abstract: The 95% EtOH extract of the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx (Zingiberaceae) showed significant antiproliferative activity towards human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma and murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells. Chemical investigation of the extract led to the isolation of forty-four new (1-44) and one known (45) diarylheptanoids, eleven phenolic compounds (46-56) together with beta-sitosterol glucoside (57). Almost all the isolated compounds showed significant antiproliferative activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the compounds, epicalyxin F (17) exhibited the most potent activity against the proliferation of colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells with an ED50 value of 0.89 microM, while calyxin B (2) exhibited the most potent activity against human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells with an ED50 value of 0.69 microM. Moreover, calyxins B (2) and K (11), epicalyxins F (17), I (20) and K (22), 6-hydroxycalyxin F (25), blepharocalyxin B (27) and mixtures of 7 and epicalyxin G (18) and of calyxin J (10) and epicalyxin J (21) possessed more potent activity than a clinically used anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil, towards HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Analysis of the structure activity relationship suggested that the position of the attachment of a chalcone or a flavanone moiety does not affect the activity, although their presence in association causes a substantial enhancement of the antiproliferative activity. Moreover, the conjugated double bond of the chalcone moiety and the phenolic hydroxyl group potentiate the antiproliferative activity of the compounds.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani, Japan.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Banskota
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tezuka
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saiki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic