Inhibitory effect on B16/F10 mouse melanoma cell and HT-29 human colon cancer cell proliferation and cordycepin content of the butanol extract of Paecilomyces militaris

The cultured mycelium of strain Paecilomyces militaris CMG 01 (Pm) was extracted sequentially by hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanol (BuOH). Among them, the BuOH extract exhibited potent anti-proliferative activity on B16/F10 mouse melanoma and HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Active chemical fractions of the Pm BuOH extract led to the isolation of a nucleoside compound, which structure was identified as cordycepin on the basis of 1H, 13C NMR and MS data. The further evaluated on cordycepin showed that cordycepin significantly inhibited B16/F10 and HT-29 cells proliferation and its content in BuOH extract was 68.89 mg/g. our results suggest that the BuOH extract of Pm is a potential source of natural anticancer agents.   Key words: Paecilomyces militaris, B16/F10 mouse melanoma cell, HT-29 human colon cancer cell, cordycepin.