Cytotoxic polyphenols against breast tumor cell in Smilax china L.
BACKGROUND
Smilax china L., referred to 'Ba Qia' (or 'Jin Gang Teng') in China, is a small vine that grows in the southern parts of China. The roots and tubers of S. china L. have been applied not only as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treatment of diuretic, rheumatic arthritic, detoxication, lumbago, gout, tumor, and inflammatory diseases, but also as food in some area of China.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the breast tumor cell toxic components in S. china L. continuously and systematically.


METHODS
Three fractions and six polyphenols were isolated from roots and tubers of S. china L. under bioassay-guided screenings. The structures of six compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and comparison with published data. Their breast tumor cytotoxicity and apoptosis of purified components were performed.


RESULTS
Six polyphenols were obtained on the basis of a bioassay-guided separation of the ethyl acetate extract, and their breast tumor cytotoxic activities were tested. They showed anti-tumor activities against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 with IC50 value of 2.1-38.9 microg/mL, and can induce apoptosis for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.


CONCLUSIONS
Among these six polyphenols, five (1, 3-6) were reported for the 1st time with in vitro activities on anti-breast tumor cell. It is likely that these polyphenols are the active components of S. china L. responsible for the anti-breast tumor cell activities.
Wu
Li-Sheng
LS
Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Wang
Xiao-Jing
XJ
Wang
Hong
H
Yang
Hai-Wei
HW
Jia
Ai-Qun
AQ
Ding
Qiang
Q
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots; D035281:Plant Tubers; D059808:Polyphenols; D032281:Smilax / Q000737:chemistry*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols