title: Cytotoxic activity and constituents of the volatile oil from the roots of Patrinia scabra Bunge.
abstract: The volatile oil from the roots of Patrinia scabra Bunge was isolated by steam distillation, and separated into four major fractions (Fr. A-D) by means of column chromatography. A total of 39 compounds (1-39) were identified by GC/MS analysis, and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against human ovarian carcinoma cells (HO-8910) and human hepatoma cells (Bel-7402) (Table 1). Fr. A showed the strongest inhibitory effect on HO-8910 (IC50 = 21 microg/ml) and Bel-7402 cells (16 mcirog/ml), whereas Fr. B was the least active (>100 microg/ml). By comparison of the constituents of the four fractions, we assume that the cytotoxicity of the volatile oil of P. scabra is mainly due to the lignans and azulenes, rather than to caryophyllene oxide I (18). Our results suggest that the volatile oil of P. scabra possesses potent and tumor-specific cytotoxicity, and could serve as a possible candidate for future cancer chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Cuirong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yuanjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D032405:Patrinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils