Anticancer activity of Hispidulin from Saussurea simpsoniana and Lupeol from Vincetoxicum arnottianum

Abstract

Saussurea simpsoniana (Field & Gard.) Lipsch (Asteraceae) is a herb, locally known as Boshi Phonar in Gilgit, Pakistan. This herb is used for the treatment of asthma, cough, pneumonia, fever, snakebite, and dysmenorrhoea. The plant Vincetoxicum arnottianum (Wight) Wight (Syn: Cyanchum arnottianum Wight), (Apocynaceae) is used for the treatment of asthma, gastritis, malaria, cholera, skin diseases, wounds, ulcer and constipation. It has recently been reported for its antitumor activity. The present study was aimed to evaluate the methanol extracts of the plants species; S. simpsoniana and V. arnottianum for isolation of the phytoconstituents. As a result of our study, β-sitosterol, hispidulin and β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside were isolated and characterized from S. simpsoniana. While β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside, and lupeol were isolated and characterized from V. arnottianum. Hispidulin and lupeol were tested against breast cancer MCF-7, osteosarcoma MG-63, pancreatic PACA-44, and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma Rh30 cell lines and hispidulin showed a moderate reduction of cell viability in the range of 20 to 50%.