title: Cytotoxic and potential anticancer constituents from the stems of Schisandra pubescens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diethyl ether extract of the stems of Schisandra pubescens Hemsl. et Wils. (Schisandraceae) was found to exhibit cytotoxic activity in vitro. However, investigations of the bioactive constituents of this plant have been very limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Elucidation of the cytotoxic constituents of S. pubescens was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC were used for the chemical investigation of the diethyl ether extract of S. pubescens stems. All isolates were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against A549, PC-3, KB and KBvin human cancer cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine known compounds were obtained, including four lignans, epischisandrone (1), tigloylgomisin P (2), cagayanone (3) and (-)-gomisin L₂ (4), together with five triterpenoids, micranoic acid B (5), lancifodilactone H (6), coccinic acid (7), schisanlactone B (8) and anwuweizonic acid (9). Compounds 2-6 and 8 showed moderate to marginal cytotoxicity, with GI₅₀ values of 11.83-35.65 μM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The isolation of 1-9 from S. pubescens and the cytotoxicities of 3-6 are first reported. Compounds 2-6 and 8 could be the active principles responsible for the anticancer effects of S. pubescens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu-Quan
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kuo-Hsiung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dao-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004986:Ether / Q000737:chemistry; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry*; D032141:Schisandra / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017705:Lignans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014315:Triterpenes; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D004986:Ether; D014750:Vincristine