title: Cytotoxic constituents from the seeds of Vietnamese Caesalpinia sappan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caesalpinia sappan Linn. (Leguminosae) has been used in folk medicines for the treatment of many diseases. The heartwood of this plant contains various phenolic components with interesting biological applications; however, the chemical and biological potentials of the seed of this plant have not been fully explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study identified the cytotoxic activity of compounds from the seeds of C. sappan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methanol extract of the seed of C. sappan was suspended in H2O and then partitioned with CH2Cl2, EtOAc, and n-BuOH, successively. Diterpenoid compounds were isolated from the CH2Cl2-soluble fraction by silica gel column chromatography methods using organic solvents. The compound structures were determined by detailed analysis of NMR and MS spectral data. Cytotoxic activity was measured using a modified MTT assay against HL-60, HeLa, MCF-7, and LLC cancer cells. The activation of caspase-3 enzyme and western blotting assay were performed to confirm inhibitory mechanism of active compound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five cassane-type diterpenoids were isolated and identified as phanginin I (1), phaginin A (2), phanginin D (3), phanginin H (4), and phanginin J (5). Compounds 1-4 showed effective inhibition against HL-60 cells with the IC50 values of 16.4 ± 1.5, 19.2 ± 2.0, 11.7 ± 1.6, and 22.5 ± 5.1 μM. Compounds 1-3 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells with the IC50 values of 28.1 ± 3.6, 37.2 ± 3.4, and 22.7 ± 2.8 μM. Treatment of HL-60 cell lines with various concentrations of 3 (0-30 μM) resulted in the growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that compound 3 (phanginin D) is one of the main active components of the seed of C. sappan activating caspases-3 which contribute to apoptotic cell death.
authors: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University-HoChiMinh City , HoChiMinh City , Vietnam .
authors: Manh Hung
authors: MH
authors: Tran
authors: Mai Thi Thanh
authors: MT
authors: Nguyen
authors: Hai Dang
authors: HD
authors: Nguyen
authors: Tien Dat
authors: TD
authors: Nguyen
authors: Thien Thuong
authors: TT
authors: Phuong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029911:Caesalpinia; D018827:Carcinoma, Lewis Lung; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003603:Cytotoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Cassane-type diterpene; cytotoxicity; human promyelocytic leukemia; leguminosae