Sesquiterpenes with hepatoprotective activity from Cnidium monnieri on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOH extract of Cnidium monnieri (Apiaceae) furnished two hepatoprotective sesquiterpenes, torilin (1) and torilolone (2), together with a new derivative, 1-hydroxytorilin (3). Compounds 1 and 2 showed hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells. The EC50 values of compounds 1 and 2 were 20.6 +/- 1.86 (P < 0.01) and 3.6 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.01) microM, respectively. Silybin as a positive control showed an EC50 value of 69.0 +/- 3.4 microM.