A novel cytotoxic aryltetraline lactone from Bupleurum marginatum (Apiaceae)

Abstract A detailed phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Bupleurum marginatum Wall. ex DC revealed a novel aryltetraline lactone lignan identified as 9-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-6,7,8-trimethoxy-3a,4,9,9a-tetrahydronaphtho[2,3-c]furan-1(3H)-one (marginatoxin) along with nine known compounds and characterization of five other compounds either by GLC/MS or LC/MS techniques. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were unambiguously elucidated by both 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectrometry techniques. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of both methanol and dichloromethane extracts as well as the isolated compounds was assessed in two human cancer cell lines HepG2 and HeLa using the MTT assay. The new aryltetraline lactone lignan exhibited a potent cytotoxic activity with IC 50 values of 12.14 and 16.90 μM after 24 h treatment for HepG2 and HeLa cells, respectively.