Cytotoxic activities of compounds from genera Euphorbia rowlandii R.A Dyer and Euphorbia tirucalli L. (Euphorbiaceae) against triple negative breast cells

Triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that lack estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) [1]. This subtype accounts for approximately 10 to 15% of diagnosed breast cancers worldwide and in Africa, more than 50% of women diagnosed with this type die [2]. Genus Euphorbia contains compounds with anticancer properties [3], hence exploring Euphorbia rowlandii R.A Dyer and Euphorbia tirucalli L. phytochemicals and cytotoxic effects.

E. rowlandii R.A Dyer afforded phorbol ester, 16-Hydroxy-12-deoxy-phorbol (1), a tentative phorbol ester (2), 3β-hydroxy-5-glutinene (3), while Euphorbia tirucalli L. afforded hexyl ferulate (4), stigmasterol (5), euphol (6), jolkinoloide A (7) and lupeol acetate (8). Structures were characterised using NMR, IR and MS. Extracts and compounds were tested for cytotoxicity using MTT against (MCF-7), (HCC70) and (MCF-12A) cells. Dichloromethane extract showed high toxicity against HCC70 and MCF-7 at 4.97 and 1.177 µM while methanol extract showed selective index (SI>1). Compound 1 showed activity against HCC70 and MCF-7 with EC₅₀ values of 0.592 and 1.003 µM respectively. Compound 2 showed moderate activity against HCC70 cells at 20.48 µM, high toxicity against MCF-7 cells with a low value of (7.67 µM) and good SI at 1.08. Compounds (4-8) showed good activity against MCF-7 at 1.397 µM (4), 2.058 µM (5), 0.760 µM (6), 2.675 µM (7) and 3.515 µM (8).

 

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• References

• 1 Anyanwu SN.. et al. Expl Clin Cancer Res 2008; 27: 17
• 2 Won KA. et al. Int. J. Oncol 2020; 57: 1245-1261
• 3 Zolfaghari B. et al. Iran J Pharm Res 2022; 21 (01) e127028

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023