Two undescribed sesquiterpene lactones (1 and 2), along with two known analogs (3 and 4), were isolated from Syneilesis aconitifolia. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculations, and single crystal x-ray diffraction. Compound 3 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against 4T1 cells, with an IC50 value of 10.89 µM. In addition, compound 3 significantly induced the apoptosis of 4T1 cells at the concentration of 20 µM. Further anticancer study showed that compound 3 distinctly increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species.
Keywords: Syneilesis aconitifolia; apoptosis; breast cancer; cytotoxic activity; sesquiterpene lactones.
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