Isolation of a new resorcinolic lipid from Mangifera zeylanica Hook.f. bark and its cytotoxic and apoptotic potential

Mangifera zeylanica is a plant endemic to Sri Lanka and its bark has been used in traditional medicine to treat some cancers. This study was aimed to isolate potentially cytotoxic compound/s from the hexane extract of the bark of M. zeylanica by bio-activity guided fractionation. The structure of the isolated compound (1) was elucidated using 1H, 13C NMR and mass spectrometric techniques. Compound 1 was identified as a new resorcinolic lipid (5-((8Z, 11Z, 14Z)-hexatriaconta-8, 11, 14-trienyl) benzene-1,3-diol). Apoptotic potential of the isolated compound was determined only in MCF-7 (estrogen receptor positive) breast cancer cells to which it was more cytotoxic than to normal mammary epithelial cells. Oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione levels (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GSH)] were also determined in MCF-7 cells treated with compound 1. Treatment with compound 1 led to an increase in caspase 7 activity, morphological features of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, it also led to an increase in ROS and GST levels while depleting GSH levels. Results of this study suggest that isolated new resorcinolic lipid can induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, possibly via oxidative stress mechanism.

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