The cytotoxic activity of lignans and monoterpenoids from the male carica papaya flowers on A549 lung cancer, Hep3B liver cancer, and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines

Abstract

Two lignans (lariciresinol (1) and dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (2)), and four monoterpenoids (vitexoid (3), 6-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-2,7-octadienoic acid (4), 6-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyloct-7-enoic acid (5), 2,6-dimethylocta-2,7-diene-1,6-diol (6)) from the male Carica papaya flowers are conducted a cytotoxic activity for lung cancer cells (A549), liver cancer cells (Hep3B), and breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The results, lignan (1), and monoterpenoid (3), (6) exhibited medium cytotoxic activity on these cancer cells with IC50 from 34.73±1.55 to 66.12±5.60 µg/mL. Lignan (2) displayed medium cytotoxic activity on MCF-7, Hep3B with IC50 60.85±4.43, 62.32±5.03 µg/mL, respectively, and weak cytotoxic activity on A549 with IC50 70.99±7.26 µg/mL. Monoterpenoids (4), and (5) showed medium cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 with IC50 54.15±5.89, 67.49±2.41 µg/mL, respectively, and weak cytotoxic activity on A549, and Hep3B with IC50 from 72.25±3.13 to 86.03±7.57 µg/mL. Ellipticine was a positive control.