Investigation of Secondary Metabolites and Cytotoxicity of Jacquemontia pentantha (Jacq.)

Introduction: The aim of this study is to isolate and identify sterols and terpenes from the chloroform/methanol extract (3:1) of aerial parts of Jacquemontia pentantha (Jacq.) and evaluation of cytotoxic activity of crude extract and phytol for the first time from this plant. Methods: Different chromatographic techniques for the aerial parts of Jacquemontia pentantha extract were used resulting in isolation of eight compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, EI/MS spectrometry and by comparing their data with those reported in the literature. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. The mode of action of the extract was predicted by using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay Kit for Tubulin beta (TUBb). Results: Eight compounds for the first time from this plant were identified as Palmitic acid (1), Phytol (major) (2), Stigmast-4-en- 3-one (3), mixture of α-amyrin (4) and β–amyrin (5), 1,6,10,14,18,22-Tetracosahexaen-3- ol,2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl (all-E) (6) and mixture of α– amyrin acetate (7) and β-amyrin acetate (8). The extract showed potent cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line as well as HCT-116 colon carcinoma cell line at different concentrations (100-6.25 ug/ml) with IC₅₀ (21.8 ± 0.9) and (40.9 ± 1.3) respectively. Phytol showed potent cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 cell line at different concentrations (100-12.5 ug/ml) with IC₅₀ (60 ± 2.4), while it had no cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 cell line. The extract showed significant TUBb polymerization inhibition activity. Conclusion: The extract of aerial parts of Jacquemontia pentantha (Jacq.) and also phytol compound has cytotoxic activity due to the presence of phytochemicals such as sterols and terpenes.