Bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)sulfide: A sulfur compound inhibitor of histone deacetylase isolated from root extract of Pleuropterus ciliinervis

Abstract

A sulfur compound, bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)sulfide (1) was isolated from the root extract of Pleuropterus ciliinervis. Its structure was elucidated using NMR spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometric analysis. Compound 1 showed potent inhibitory activity in a histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzyme assay. It also exhibited growth inhibitory activity on five human tumor cell lines and more sensitive inhibitory activity on the MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cell line. © 2007 by MDPI.