Antitumor activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin isolated from Anthriscus sylvestris: Induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis

An active compound having antitumor activity was isolated from the root of Anthriscus sylvestris. Flow cytometric analysis showed that it arrests the cell cycle in the G2/M phase prior to apoptosis. Its mechanisms of action involve inhibition of tubulin polymerization, dysregulation of cyclin A and cyclin B1 expression, and activation of caspases-3 and -7.