In vitro antitumor activity of triterpenes from Ceriops tagal

The embryo of Ceriops tagal was extracted with 95% ethanol at room temperature, and four triterpenes (1-4) were separated from this extract. For the first time these triterpenes were the separated from this plant. Compounds (1-4) were tested in vitro for antitumor activity against three cell lines (human liver cancer cell (H-7402), human B-lymphoblastoid cell (Raji), and human cervical carcinoma cell (Hela)). Compounds 1 and 3 were effective to inhibit cell proliferation and growth of H-7402 and Hela, the IC(50) of them on H-7402 were 14.42 microg mL(-1) and 9.97 microg mL(-1), and the IC(50) of them on Hela were 11.84 microg mL(-1) and 11.32 microg mL(-1). All compounds 1-4 were not effective to inhibit cell proliferation and growth of Raji. The effects of compound 4 on inhibiting proliferation and growth of these three cancer cells was also not obvious.