Limonoids from Azadirachta excelsa

Phytochemistry. 1998 Apr;47(7):1283-7. doi: 10.1016/s0031-9422(97)00711-5.

Abstract

Activity-directed fractionation of a stem extract of Azadirachta excelsa using KB (human oral epidermoid carcinoma) cells led to the isolation of four meliacin-type limonoids. Two of these constituents were novel, namely, 2,3-dihydronimbolide and 3-deoxymethylnimbidate, and these were purified along with the known compounds, nimbolide and 28-deoxonimbolide. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. Nimbolide and 28-deoxonimbolide were broadly cytotoxic when evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines, while the two novel compounds were inactive in this regard. The defection of nimbolide and 28-deoxonimbolide as cytotoxic constituents was facilitated by an electrospray LC/MS dereplication procedure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cholenes / chemistry
  • Cholenes / isolation & purification*
  • Cholenes / pharmacology
  • Diterpenes / chemistry
  • Diterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Diterpenes / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Lactones / chemistry
  • Lactones / isolation & purification*
  • Lactones / pharmacology
  • Limonins*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Secosteroids / chemistry
  • Secosteroids / isolation & purification*
  • Secosteroids / pharmacology
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • 2,3-dihydronimbolide
  • 3-deoxymethylnimbidate
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Cholenes
  • Diterpenes
  • Lactones
  • Limonins
  • Secosteroids
  • 28-deoxonimbolide
  • nimbolide