Lycium schweinfurthii: new secondary metabolites and their cytotoxic activities

Abstract

Two new compounds, 11S-methoxy-11,12-dihydro phytuberin (2) and 9S-methoxy-benzocyclononan-7-one (6), together with twenty-six known ones were isolated from Lycium schweinfurthii (Solanaceae). Their planar structure was established by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 6 was determined by time dependent density functional theory calculations (TDDFT). The cytotoxic potential of the isolates was assessed in cultured skin cancer (G-361) and colon cancer (HCT-116 and CaCo-2) cell lines. Certain flavonoids showed the highest cytotoxic activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.1 to 63.3 µM; meanwhile 5-flurouracil showed IC₅₀ values ranging from 62.4 to >100 µM. All compounds showed minimal toxicity towards normal cells from skin (NHDF-4) and colon (CCD-841), indicating their potential selectivity and safety as cytotoxic candidates.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Lycium schweinfurthii
• Solanaceae
• cytotoxicity
• G-361
• HCT-116
• CaCo-2

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Gratefully, the first author acknowledges the ministry of higher education, Egypt for scholarship support.