First determination of anticancer, cytotoxic and in silico ADME evaluation of secondary metabolites of endemic Astragalus leucothrix Freyn & Bornm

Abstract

Isolation and characterization of anticancer activity guided secondary metabolites of endemic Astragalus leucothrix FREYN& BORNM were aimed. Aerial parts of the plant were extracted by maceration method in the solvent system methanolchloroform (1:1) at room temperature. The obtained crude extract was dissolved in purified water. Then, the extract was partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, respectively. Anticancer activity tests of all the fractions were performed against HeLa and C6 cancer cells. The chloroform fraction that has highest anticancer activity was subjected to chromatographic methods such as column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. Pentyl tetratetracontanoate (1), alfalone (2), 3,6,8-tribromoquinoline (3) and 3,6,8-tribromochromenium (4) molecules were detected from this plant for the first time. The structure determinations of the isolated molecules were elucidated by methods such as 1D and 2D NMR, HPLC-TOF /MS, and GC-MS analysis. Finally, anticancer and cytotoxic activity tests of the 3 compounds were performed. Literature survive showed that 3,6,8-tribromochromenium is a new compound. IC 50 values of compound 1-2 and compound 3-4 mix were determined 4.50±0.10, 2.81±0.00, 4.33±0.00 µM against C6 cell, respectively. The drug likeness properties of 1-4 were obtained by SwissADME. According to Lipinski's rule of five; 2-4 could be a new potential anticancer agent.