Aciculatin, a novel flavone-C-glycoside with DNA binding activity from chrysopogon aciculatis

Abstract A novel flavone-C-glycoside, aciculatin ( 1 ), has been isolated from the methylene chloride extract of Chrysopogon aciculatis (Poaceae) collected in the Philippines. The structure of 1 was determined by analysis of spectral data. Aciculatin exhibits cytotoxicity towards KB cells that is reduced by an order of magnitude in the presence of exogenous DNA indicating that 1 binds to DNA. DNA binding assays indicated an apparent K d of 15 – 50 μM for binding of 1 to calf thymus DNA.