Growth Inhibitory Activity of Extracted Material and Isolated Compounds from the Fruits ofKigelia pinnata

Abstract

A study of the components of the fruits of Kigelia pinnata was undertaken to identify compounds with potential growth inhibitory activity against human melanoma cells, since extracts from the fruits of this plant have been described in traditional medicine to have application in the treatment of skin cancer and other skin ailments. A bioactivity-guided fractionation process yielded a number of crude fractions, which demonstrated cytotoxicity in vitro against human melanoma cells. Compounds isolated and identified included the isocoumarins, demethylkigelin (1) and kigelin (2), fatty acids, oleic (3) and heneicosanoic acids (4), the furonaphthoquinone, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (5), and ferulic acid (6). A number of structurally related synthetic compounds were also tested using the MTT assay. The most potent series of these compounds, the furonaphthoquinones, also demonstrated a cytotoxic effect in two human breast cancer cell lines tested.

An examination of the antibacterial, antifungal, anti-Giardial and anticancer properties of Kigelia africana fruit extracts

“…Aqueous root bark extracts significantly inhibit the growth of melanoma cells and renal carcinoma cells [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Recent studies have demonstrated cytotoxic activity for K. africana fruit extracts against a melanoma and 2 breast cancer cell lines. [55] That study also used a bioactivity driven separation approach to identify demethylkigelin, kigelin, ferulic acid and 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-naphtho [2,3-b] furan-4,9-dione as possessing cytotoxic activity. [55] Of these, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-naphtho [2,3-b] furan-4,9-dione was a particularly potent cytotoxic agent.…”

“…[55] That study also used a bioactivity driven separation approach to identify demethylkigelin, kigelin, ferulic acid and 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-naphtho [2,3-b] furan-4,9-dione as possessing cytotoxic activity. [55] Of these, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-naphtho [2,3-b] furan-4,9-dione was a particularly potent cytotoxic agent. Our study did not identify the active components of the cytotoxic extracts.…”

Induction of Apoptosis withKigelia africanafruits in HCT116 Human Colon Cancer Cells via MAPKs Signaling Pathway

“…Internally, it dysentery, ringworm, tape worm, postpartum hemorrhage, malaria, diabetes, pneumonia, and is used for the treatment of dental pain. [10][11] The roots, wood and leaves have been found to contain kigelinone, vernolic acid, kigelin, iridoids, luteolin, and 6-hydroxyluteolin.…”

Antineoplastic activity of a methanolic extract from Kigelia pinnata DC stem bark

“…The extensive phytochemical examinations of the plant has resulted in the isolation of different secondary metabolites such as iridoids [17][18][19] and naphtoquinoids [20][21][22][23][24], considered to convey much of its pharmacological activities [13], although flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, coumarins, phenylethanoids, phenylpropanoids and sterols have been isolated, as well [14,24,25].…”

“…Much of the studies on the biological activity of Kigelia pinnata have been concentrated on its antimicrobial effects [17,24] and its cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines [20][21][22]. This research interest is related to the traditional uses of bark and fruit extracts throughout Africa as remedies for treating sexually transmitted diseases, dysentery, leprosy, miscellaneous microbial and parasitic infections, skin ulcers, and neoplastic diseases [13,14,16,26].…”