Abstract
Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Euphorbia cuneata Vahl. (Euphorbiaceae) revealed new cycloartane triterpenoid, cyclocuneatol (2) and new ellagitannin glycoside, cuneatannin (11), along with nine known metabolites: βâsitosterol (1), 3βâhydroxycycloartâ25âeneâ24âone (3), cycloartâ25âeneâ3β,24βâdiol (4), cycloartâ23Zâeneâ3β,25âdiol (5), 2Rânaringenin (6), βâsitosterolâ3âOâβâDâglucopyranoside (7), quercetin (8), kaempferolâ7âOâβâglucoside (9), and 2Rânaringeninâ7âOâβâglucoside (10). Their chemical structures were identified by detailed analyses of physical, chemical, and spectral data as well as comparison with literature. Their cytotoxic activity was assessed towards HepG2, MCF7, and HCT116 cancer cell lines by sulphorhodamine B test (SRB). It is noteworthy that 3 and 4 demonstrated the most significant activity towards HepG2, MCF7, and HCT116 cells (IC50 2.6, 2.7, and 2.4â
ÎźM, respectively for 3 and 3.4, 4.1, and 5.3â
ÎźM, respectively for 4) in comparison with doxorubicin (IC50 0.18, 0.6, and 0.2â
ÎźM, respectively).
Two new metabolites, cyclocuneatol (2) and cuneatannin (11) and nine known compounds (1 and 3â10) were isolated from the Euphorbia cuneata aerial parts. Their chemical characterization was achieved using various spectral analyses. They were assessed for cytotoxic capacity towards HepG2, MCF7, and HCT116 cancer cell lines. 3βâHydroxycycloartâ25âeneâ24âone (3) and cycloartâ25âeneâ3β,24βâdiol (4) showed significant activity towards the tested cell lines.