Cytotoxic Activity of Daucane Sesquiterpene Esters Isolated From Endemic Ferula tenuissima HUB. MOR& PEŞMEN

Abstract

Objectives: Phytochemical study of endemic Ferula tenuissima roots and determination of the cytotoxic activity of pure compounds on PC-3. Materials and Methods: Air-dried and powdered roots of F. tenuissima (1 kg) were extracted respectively with n-hexane, chloroform (CHCl3) and methanol (MeOH) (3x2 L, each) by sonication at 30 ºC, for 24h. The extracts were then filtered. The solvents separately evaporated under reduced pressure to dryness. Compounds were isolated by chromatographic methodes and structures of compounds were determined by spectral methodes (1D-, 2D NMR and LC-MS). Compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activities versu PC-3 cell line by WST assay. Results: Phytochemical investigation of dried roots of endemic F. tenuissima performed and three sesquiterpene esters were isolated. As teferidin, ferutinin and elaocyhtrin-A; daucane-type sesquiterpenes were identified. In the bioactivity study, Ferutinin exhibitited the highest cytotoxic activity with 19.7 µM IC50 value. Conclusion: The results indicate that the main compounds of Ferula tenuissima roots are daucane sesquiterpenes and ferrutinin has potential effect on PC-3 cells.

Ferutinin content and cytotoxic effects of various Ferula L. species on prostate cancer (PC-3) cell line

“…Nonetheless F. tenuissima and F. halophila hexane extracts including the highest amount of ferutinin (167380 µg/g and 157160 µg/g respectively) among all extracts didn't provide the best inhibition on the proliferation. Additionally, in another paper published by our group ferutinin isolated from F. tenuissima was tested for its cytotoxic activity against PC-3 cell line and IC50 value was found as 19.7 µM [23].All these results indicate that ferutinin is not the only responsible of the activity but the total extract including also the other daucane esters causes the effect by synergic activity. And, it seems possible to say that these are nonpolar derivatives since any methanol extract possesses cytotoxic activity.…”

“…Standard ferutinin was isolated and purified in our laboratory from Ferula tenuissima and the kindly provided by Aydogan et al [23]. A stock solution of standard was prepared in chloroform in a concentration of 1 mg/ml.…”