title: Cytotoxic phenanthrenes from the rhizomes of Tamus communis.
abstract: From the fresh rhizomes of Tamus communis five phenanthrenes (1 - 5) were isolated under the guidance of cytotoxic assays in HeLa cells. The compounds were obtained from the highly active CHCl (3) fraction of the MeOH extract by using multistep chromatographic purifications, including VLC, preparative TLC, HPLC and gel filtration. The compounds were identified by means of EI-mass, UV and NMR spectroscopy as 7-hydroxy-2,3,4-trimethoxyphenanthrene (1), 2,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene (nudol) (2), 2,7-dihydroxy-3,4,8-trimethoxyphenanthrene (3), 3,7-dihydroxy-2,4,8-trimethoxyphenanthrene (confusarin) (4), and 3,7-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene (5). Compound 1 is a new natural product, and 2 - 4 were isolated for the first time from T. communis. In the cytotoxic assays, compounds 1 - 3 and 5 significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells (IC (50) = 0.97 - 20.18 microM). Compound 3, with an IC (50) value of 0.97 microM, is of special interest because of its high activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Borbála
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Réthy
authors.forename: Adriána
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zupkó
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Forgo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasas
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falkay
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hohmann
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027343:Rhizome; D027744:Tamus
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010936:Plant Extracts