Cytotoxic Steroids from Sarcococca saligna

Abstract

Two new C₂₁-steroidal esters, sarsaligates A (1) and B (2), and two new steroidal alkaloids, sarsaligenines A (3) and B (4), together with four known compounds (sarcovagine, sarcorucinine, dimethylamino-3β-pregnane-20-one, and β-sitosterol 5–8, respectively), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Sarcococca saligna. The structures of compounds 1–4 were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. Of the compounds tested, 5 and 6 were the most cytotoxic against the cell lines K562, SK-BR-3, and PANC-1, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 2.25–5.00 µM, while 3 and 4 selectively inhibited HL-60 cells with IC₅₀ values of 2.87 and 3.61 µM, respectively. Compounds 3–6 therefore deserve further evaluation of their cytotoxic potentials.

Key words

Buxaceae - Sarcococca saligna - sarsaligates A/B - sarsaligenines A/B - cytotoxicity

References

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