Thein Zaw Linn

Novel norcassane-type diterpene from the seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista

Three novel norcassane-type diterpenes were isolated from a CH2Cl2 extract of the seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista together with four known cassane-type diterpenes. All the new compounds represent unprecedented carbon framework. Norcaesalpinin A (1) and B (2) had 17-norcassane skeleton, while norcaesalpinin C (3) had 16-norcassane skeleton. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis.

Identification of Chrysoplenetin from Vitex negundo as a Potential Cytotoxic Agent against PANC-1 and a Panel of 39 Human Cancer Cell Lines (JFCR-39)

Human pancreatic cancer is known to be the most deadly disease with the lowest 5‐year survival rate and is resistant to well known conventional chemotherapeutic drugs in clinical use. Screening of medicinal plants from Myanmar utilizing antiausterity strategy led to the identification of Vitex negundo as one of the medicinal plants having potent preferential cytotoxic activity against PANC‐1 human pancreatic cancer cells. Bioactivity‐guided phytochemical investigation led to the isolation of chrysoplenetin (1) and chrysosplenol D (2) as the active constituents with a PC50 value of 3.4 μg/mL and 4.6 μg/mL, respectively, against PANC‐1 cells. Both these compounds induced apoptosis‐like morphological changes in PANC‐1 cells. Chrysoplenetin was further tested against a panel of 39 human cancer cell lines (JFCR‐39) at the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, and 25 cell lines belonging to lung, breast, CNS, colon, melanoma, ovarian, prostate cancer and stomach cancer cell lines were found to be highly sensitive to chrysoplenetin at a submicromolar range. In the JFCR‐39 panel, lung NCI‐H522, ovarian OVCAR‐3 and prostate PC‐3 cells were found to be most sensitive with GI50 of 0.12, 0.18 and 0.17 μm, respectively. The COMPARE analysis suggested that the molecular mode of action of chrysoplenetin was unique compared with the existing anticancer drugs. Copyright