Abstract
Eight new aryltetralin lignans, cleisindosides A–F (1–6), picroburseranin
(7), and 7-hydroxypicropolygamain (8), were isolated from the fruits of
Cleistanthus indochinensis (Euphorbiaceae). The structures of the isolates were
established on the basis of their one- and two-dimensional NMR spectral data, as well
as their
mass spectrometric data. Compound 7 was found to have potent cytotoxicity against oral
epidermoid carcinoma cells with an IC50 value of 0.062 µM, whereas glycosylation to
3 (IC50 7.5 µM) and stereochemical changes to 8 (IC50
10.8 µM) led to marked decreases in biological activity. Thus, it was determined that
the C-7
and C-8′ positions are critical for the biological activity of the lignans from this
plant.
Key words
Euphorbiaceae -
Cleistanthus indochinensis
- lignans - glycosides - cytotoxicity