Antiproliferative activity of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Leucojum aestivum L. of Turkish origin

Plants of the Amaryllidaceae family are known to produce structurally diverse Amaryllidaceae alkaloids that have the potential to be used in different diseases depending on their wide spectrum of biological activities [1]. Among the Amaryllidaceae genera in Türkiye, Leucojum aestivum L., is the only naturally growing species of the genus Leucojum L. [2].

Aiming at finding antiproliferative compounds against breast cancer cells, isolation and structural elucidation studies were carried out on L. aestivum plant samples collected from the vicinity of Yenişarbademli in Isparta province during flowering period. The alkaloidal extract was prepared from total dried plant material and fractionated by column chromatography (CC). The fractions were further purified by using methods such as preparative CC, preparative thin layer chromatography and crystallisation. The structures of the purified compounds were identified by MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with the previous literature data as galantamine, lycorine, tazettine and narwedine previously obtained from Leucojum aestivum [3], as well as hippamine, 11-deoxytazettine and 5,6-dihydrobicolorine which were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Antiproliferative activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated by MTT and LDH leakage assays on the estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell line MCF7 [4]. Among the isolated alkaloids, 5,6-dihydrobicolorine and lycorine were found to decrease cell viability statistically in a dose-dependent manner in MTT assay. Furthermore, all compounds caused statistically significant increase in LDH enzyme activity when compared to the control (0.1% DMSO). Hippamine induced highest increase in enzyme activity at all concentrations tested.

Funding This research was funded by Ege University Research Project TGA-2020-21193.

 

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• References

• 1 Cimmino A, Masi M, Evidente M, Superchi S, Evidente A.. Chirality 2017; 29: 486-499
• 2 Mill RR. Leucojum L. in: Davis (PH) Ed) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Is1ands. 1984. 8. 364-365
• 3 Berkov S, Codina C, Viladomat F, Bastida J.. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2008; 18: 2263-2266
• 4 Abe K, Matsuki N.. Neuroscience Research 2000; 38: 325-329

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023