A Bioactive Polyacetylene Compound Isolated from Centella asiatica

Abstract

A polyacetylene compound was isolated from the aerial parts of Centella asiatica. The chemical structure of this new compound was identified as methyl 5-[(E)-9-hydroxy-1-(1-hydroxyhexyl)-2-methoxyundeca-3,10-diene-5,7-diynyloxy]pentanoate (cadiyenol). This compound induces apoptosis (63 %) independent of cell cycle regimen in mouse lymphoma cells (P388D1) at 28 μM (IC₅₀ = 24 ± 2 μM) in 24 hours. The compound also reduces nitric oxide production by 70 ± 2 % in lipopolysacharride-activated mouse macrophages at 24 μM with no measurable cytotoxicity.

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