Cytotoxic Cardiac Glycosides and Other Compounds from Asclepias syriaca

Juan J. Araya†, Kelly Kindscher‡, and Barbara N. Timmermann*†

^† Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States

^‡ Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, Kansas 66047, United States

J. Nat. Prod., Article ASAP

DOI: 10.1021/np2008076

Publication Date (Web): February 8, 2012

Phytochemical investigation of the dried biomass of Asclepias syriaca afforded five new compounds (1–5), along with 19 known structures. Overall, the secondary metabolites isolated and identified from this plant showed a wide structural diversity including pentacyclic triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, lignans, a phenylethanoid, and a glycosylated megastigmane. In addition, the isolates were tested against the cancer breast cell line Hs578T, and those showing IC₅₀ values lower than 50 μM (1 and 6–9) were further investigated in three additional breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, and Sk-Br-3) and the normal breast cell line Hs578Bst.

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