A new lanostane-type triterpene and sesquiterpene lactones from Vernonia leopoldii and their in vitro cytotoxicity

Abstract

Investigation of the aerial parts of Vernonia leopoldii (Sch. Bip.) Vatke afforded a new lanostane-type triterpene along with known hirsutinolide-type sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoid glycosides, all are identified for the first time in this species. The new compound was identified as lanost-3β, 23S-dihydroxy-22(31)-ene. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. The hirsutinolides and the triterpene were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines using MTT assay.

Keywords:

• Vernonia leopoldii
• Asteraceae
• hirsutinolides
• lanostane triterpene
• cytotoxicity

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the kind help of Dr Sabina Knees and Dr Tony Miller, Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, UK, in confirming the plant identity, and of Dr Mohamad El Raey, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt, for carrying out the optical rotation measurement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.