Limonoid compounds from Xylocarpus granatum and their anti-cancer activity against esophageal cancer cells.

Abstract

e16516 Background: We aimed to study the anti-cancer effects of limonoid compounds that were isolated and purified from Xylocarpus granatum fruits on human esophageal cancer cells. A structure-activity relationship experiment was designed to identify the functional moiety of limonoid compounds identified as being critical for its anti-cancer activity. Methods: Esophageal cancer Eca109 cells were treated with limonoid compounds. Cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay in vitro and cellular apoptosis by flow cytometry and Western Immunolotting. Results: Four linonoid compounds strongly inhibited the cellular proliferation of Eca109 cells. Xylogranatin C was the strongest inhibitor, whose inhibitory effect was comparable to that of the well-known chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin. Furthermore, xylogranatin C might induce Eca109 cell apoptosis through joint effects on multiple pathways, including the death receptor and endoplasmic reticulum pathways. Additionally, xylogranatin C suppressed tumor cell proliferation by up-regulating miR-203a expression in Eca109 cells. Conclusions: Inhibitory effects of xylogranatin C were more potent than cisplatin. Xylogranatin C induced Eca109 cellular apoptosis and exerted anti-tumor activity. Xylogranatin C might have induced Eca109 cellular apoptosis via joint effects on multiple pathways, including the death receptor and mitochondria-dependent signaling pathways. Additionally, xylogranatin C suppressed tumor cell proliferation by up-regulating miR-203a expression in Eca109 cells.