Chemical Constituents of the Roots and Rhizomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata and their Cytotoxic Activity

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Umbelliferae) resulted in the isolation of six chromons (1-6) and five polyacetylene derivatives (7-11). Compounds 9 and 11 were isolated from S. divaricate for the first time. The chromon derivatives (1-6) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Compound 1 (3′-O-angeloylhamaudol) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity with an IC₅₀ value of 4.41 μM and was found to induce apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells. The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, and activation of caspase-9 in the 1-treated HL-60 cells suggests that 1 induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway.