title: Cytotoxic activity of 9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol from Eulophia nuda against human cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eulophia nuda L. (Orchidaceae) is a medicinally important terrestrial orchid used for the treatment of tumours and various health problems by the local healers throughout the Western Ghats region in Maharashtra (India).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To isolate the active molecule from Eulophia nuda and to study its cytotoxic potential against human cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The crude methanolic extract of Eulophia nuda tubers was fractionated by stepwise gradient of the solvents-chloroform-methanol to isolate the pure compound. Isolated pure compound was assessed for its cytotoxic potential against human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 using MTT assay. Structure elucidation of the isolated active compound was carried out by extensive spectroscopic analysis including (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, NOESY, COSY, LC-MS and IR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The isolated active molecule was identified as phenanthrene derivative 9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol. This compound showed good antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (91%) and MDA-MB-231 (85%) at 1000 microg/ml concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  9,10-Dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol from Eulophia nuda tubers showed good growth suppressive effect against human cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 making it a potential biomolecule against human cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Annasaheb Magar College, Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India. svash_in@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shriram
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: P B Kavi
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Kishor
authors.forename: Sharad B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Suryawanshi
authors.forename: Ankur K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
authors.forename: Manoj K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C550091:9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010936:Plant Extracts