Phytochemical study of Polyalthia Jucunda stem bark

Abstract

In the investigation of chemical constituents of the stem bark of Polyalthia jucunda (Pierre) Finet & Gagnep., 4,5-dihydroblumenol A (a norsesquiterpene), 24-methylenelanosta-7,9(11)-dien-3beta,15alpha-diol (a triterpene) and a phenylpropanoid, 4-hydroxy-4,7-dimethyl-alpha-tetralone were isolated. Identification of these compounds was ac complished by analysis of their spectroscopy data: MA, 1-D and 2-D NMR, as well as comparison with reported values. All the compounds were evaluated for their effects on growth of four human tumor cell lines [ER (+) MCF-7, ER (-) MAD-MB-231, SF-268 and NCI-H460] as well as of a non-tumor cell line (MRC-5). Only 24-methylenelanosta-7,9(11)-dien-3beta,15alpha-diol exhibited a dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect against both tumor and non-tumor cell lines but with less, effect on the latter.