New metabolites with cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities isolated from Bonellia macrocarpa

Abstract

Five compounds were isolated from Bonellia macrocarpa roots: 1,3,5,6-tetramethoxy-8-methylnaphthalene (1), 3,5-dihydroxy-1,2,2-trimethyl-benzocyclobutane (2), 3-methoxy-5-octylphenol (3), 3-methoxy-2-methyl-5-pentylphenol (4), and protoprimulagenin A (5), being 1–3 new. Compound 5 showed the best effect, exhibiting cytotoxic activity on three of the cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, and MCF-7) and antiproliferative activity against two cell lines (SiHa and DU-145). The isolated compounds were able to produce greater cytotoxic than antiproliferative effect; although their cytotoxic activity was not as potent, the cytotoxicity on Vero normal cell line was lower compared to that on cancer cell lines. This work contributes to the description of five compounds isolated from B. macrocarpa and highlights the biological potential of this species.