title: Cytotoxic lignans from Larrea tridentata.
abstract: Six lignans, including the cyclolignan 3,4'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxy-6,7'-cyclolignan, were isolated from the flowering tops of Larrea tridentata. Additionally the flavanone, (S)-4',5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, was isolated for the first time from L. tridentata or any member of the family Zygophyllaceae. All of the compounds were assessed for their growth inhibitory activity against human breast cancer, human colon cancer and human melanoma cell lines. The lignans had IC50 values of 5-60 microM with the linear butane-type lignans being the most potent, and it was found that colon cancer cells were the least sensitive cell type tested. The relative potency of linear butane type lignans against human breast cancer appears to correlate positively with the number of O-methyl groups present on the molecule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 164 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. joshua_lambert@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Shengmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Colby G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Ross O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dorr
authors.forename: Barbara N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Timmermann
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D032442:Larrea / Q000737:chemistry*; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017705:Lignans