Planta Med 2012; 78 - PI230
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320917

Exploitation of Juglans regia pericarps: Chemical analysis & in vitro anti cancer and immunomodulating activities

G Tsasi 1, P Samara 2, O Tsitsilonis 2, H Skaltsa 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy & Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
  • 2Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece

In search of new anticancer agents of plant origin, the secondary metabolites of Juglans regia L. pericarps and their cytotoxic activities were investigated. The chemical analysis revealed the presence of 23 compounds, identified by spectroscopic methods belonging to phenolic acids, naphthoquinones, diarylheptanoids, ellagic acid, dihydrophaseic acid [1], as well as the flavonoids sudachitin, cirsilineol, apigenin, eriodictyol, 5, 6, 4′-trihydroxy 7, 3′-dimethoxy- flavone and five triterpenoids, belonging to α-/β-amyrin derivatives. Preliminary screening showed that sclerone and 3-MeO-juglone exhibit cytotoxic activity against a panel of cancer cell lines (MTT assay). Both compounds increased NK cell cytotoxicity as well as they enhanced T cell proliferation as assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation assays. The chemical and biological investigation of J. regia L. pericarps is still under progress.

References: 1. Kavroulaki, E. et al. (2008) Planta Med. 74: 1040

Acknowledgements: This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program "Education and Lifelong Learning" of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) – Research Funding Program: Heracleitus II. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund.