title: Study of cytotoxic activity, podophyllotoxin, and deoxypodophyllotoxin content in selected Juniperus species cultivated in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The demand for podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin is still increasing and commercially exploitable sources are few and one of them, Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (Berberidaceae), is a "critically endangered" species.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The first aim was to quantify the amount of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin in 61 Juniperus (Cupressaceae) samples. Cytotoxic activity of podophyllotoxin and ethanolic leaf extracts of Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. "Blue Pacific" and Juniperus communis L. "Depressa Aurea" was examined against different leukemia cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis was performed with the use of a Waters ACQUITY UPLC(TM) system (Waters Corp., Milford, MA). The peaks of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin were assigned on the basis of their retention data and mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Trypan blue assay was performed to obtain IC50 cytotoxicity values against selected leukemia cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Juniperus scopulorum was characterized with the highest level of podophyllotoxin (486.7 mg/100 g DW) while Juniperus davurica Pall. contained the highest amount of deoxypodophyllotoxin (726.8 mg/100 g DW). Podophyllotoxin IC50 cytotoxicity values against J45.01 and CEM/C1 leukemia cell lines were 0.0040 and 0.0286 µg/mL, respectively. Juniperus scopulorum extract examined against J45.01 and HL-60/MX2 leukemia cell lines gave the respective IC50 values: 0.369-9.225 µg/mL. Juniperus communis extract was characterized with the following IC50 cytotoxity values against J45.01 and U-266B1 cell lines: 3.310-24.825 µg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Juniperus sp. can be considered as an alternative source of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin. Cytotoxic activity of podophyllotoxin and selected leaf extracts of Juniperus sp. against a set of leukemia cell lines was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin , Lublin , Poland .
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Och
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Och
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Cieśla
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubrak
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Pecio
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stochmal
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kocki
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogucka-Kocka
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006801:Humans; D018653:Juniperus / Q000737:chemistry*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011044:Poland; D014343:Trypan Blue
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C014451:deoxypodophyllotoxin; D014343:Trypan Blue; D011034:Podophyllotoxin
keywords: Antitumor lignans; UPLC; cupressaceae; leukemia cell lines