An antiproliferative norditerpene dilactone, Nagilactone C, from Podocarpus neriifolius

• Published in: Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) Vol. 8; no. 6; pp. 489 - 491
• Main Authors: Shrestha, K., Banskota, A.H., Kodata, S., Shrivastava, S.P., Strobel, G., Gewali, M.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.11.2001; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - isolation & purification; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; antiproliferative activity for cancer cells; Cell Division - drug effects; Cycadopsida; Diterpenes - chemistry; Diterpenes - isolation & purification; Diterpenes - pharmacology; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Mice; nagilactone C; norditerpene dilactone; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Podocarpus neriifolius; Tumor Cells, Cultured - drug effects; antiproliferative activity for cancer cells; norditerpene dilactone; nagilactone C; Podocarpus neriifolius
• ISSN: 0944-7113; 1618-095X
• DOI: 10.1078/S0944-7113(04)70071-9

An ethanolic extract of Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don (Podocarpaceae) showed antiproliferative activity against two major tumor cell lines, viz. human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma and murine color 26-L5 carcinoma. Bioassay guided fractionation showed the highest antiproliferative activity in chloroform–soluble fraction. Nagilactone C, the major constituent of this fraction was isolated and characterized by using NMR, IR and FAB-MS spectroscopic methods. Nagilactone C possessed potent antiproliferative activity against human fibrosarcoma and murine colon carcinoma tumor cell lines exhibiting ED 50 values of 2.3 and 1.2 μg/ml, respectively. Hence, nagilactone C could be the active constituent present in this plant.