Planta Med 2015; 81 - PX35
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556479

Bioactivity-guided isolation and quantification of episilvestrol and silvestrol from Aglaia perviridis

G Agarwal 1, L Pan 1, CB Naman 1, HB Chai 1, TN Ninh 2, DD Soejarto 3, 4, AD Kinghorn 1
  • 1Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • 2Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • 3College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612
  • 4Science and Technology, Field Museum, 1400 S. Lakeshore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605

Bioactivity-guided isolation, fractionation and quantification from Aglaia perviridis Hiern (Meliaceae) (voucher specimen: Soejarto et al 14595) demonstrated it to be only the third plant of the genus Aglaia found to produce silvestrol and its epimer, 5″-episilvestrol (episilvestrol). Several fractions from the chloroform extract produced from the whole plant were found to be active against HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells in vitro. Further purification and chemical analysis of the active fractions interestingly showed them to contain episilvestrol in a higher amount compared to silvestrol, contrary to the observation of silvestrol being the more abundant compound as in Aglaia foveolata.