title: Anti-tumor activity of Annona squamosa seeds extract containing annonaceous acetogenin compounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seeds of Annona squamosa L. have been used in the south of China as a folk remedy to treat "malignant sores" (cancer).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the chemical constituents and the anti-tumor activity of the standardized A. squamosa seeds extract in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Annonaceous acetogenin profiles of the standardized extract were determined by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. The anti-tumor activity of the extract was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity in vitro and H(22) hepatoma cells transplantation tumor model in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FT-IR spectroscopy showed the presence of annonaceous acetogenin compounds in the extract. Two major annonaceous acetogenins: 12, 15-cis-squamostatin-A and bullatacin were identified and quantified by HPLC. The seed extract showed significant anti-tumor activity against four human tumor cell lines, especially for MCF-7 (IC(50). 0.25 μg/ml) and Hep G2 (IC(50). 0.36 μg/ml) cells in vitro. The extract inhibited the growth of H(22) tumor cells in mice with a maximum inhibitory rate of 69.55% by oral administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. squamosa seed extract showed significant anti-tumor activities against human hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo, indicating a potential for developing the extract as a novel anti-liver cancer drug.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sha-sha
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jian-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui-qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Nai-bing
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D054378:Acetogenins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031041:Annona / Q000737:chemistry*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012639:Seeds
chemical_list: C575761:12,15-cis-squamostatin-A; D054378:Acetogenins; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005663:Furans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C061022:bullatacin