Abstract
The CHCl(3)fraction of MeOH extract ofPeriploca somaliensis(family Asclepiadaceae) fruits afforded a new scalarane sesterterpene, namely perisomalien A (1), along with lupeol acetate (2),beta-amyrin (3), cycloart-23Z-ene-3 beta,25-diol (4), and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). Their chemical structures were established by various spectroscopic analyses, in addition to comparison with the formerly reported data. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of these metabolites was assessed towards MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 tumour cell lines using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Compound4showed the most potent cytotoxic profile with IC(50)9.0 mu M towards MCF-7, compared to doxorubicin (IC(50)0.18 mu M). Also,1and4possessed the most potent effect towards HepG2 with IC(50)s 26.7 and 25.9 mu M, respectively. In addition, all tested compounds showed cytotoxic effects with IC(50)values ranging from 19.9 to 39.3 mu M against HCT-116.