Antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the acetone extracts of root of Euphorbia hylonoma and its ellagic acid derivatives

Abstract

The acetone extracts and fractions prepared from the roots of Euphorbia hylonoma were investigated for 1, 1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and cytotoxic activity against the human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721, human cervix epitheloid carcinoma cell line HeLa and the human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. The acetone extract and fraction of EtOAc showed high antioxidant activities. The acetone extract and fraction of water showed a stronger cytotoxic effect on all tested cells, with IC50 values being less than 20 μg/mL. The acetone extract and fraction of water induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase in SMMC-7721 cells. The major compounds isolated from the acetone extract were ellagic acid derivatives and showed weak cytotoxic activities on the tested cell lines, and these compound were 3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid (1), 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (2), 3-O-methylellagic acid (3) and 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-β-dxylopyranosid (4). Compound 3 showed better obvious radical scavenging activity than other tested compounds. © 2011 Academic Journals.