Cytotoxic Sesquiterpenoids from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Phytochemistry

Background:

• Atractylodes chinensis is a traditional medicinal herb.
• Sesquiterpenoids are a diverse class of natural products with various biological activities.
• Exploring the chemical constituents of A. chinensis can lead to the discovery of novel compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from Atractylodes chinensis.
• To investigate the cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds.
• To identify new sesquiterpenoids and evaluate their potential medicinal value.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of compounds using chromatographic techniques.
• Structure elucidation using 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and High-Resolution Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS).
• Cytotoxicity assays against HepG2 cells.

Main Results:

• Four new sesquiterpenoids (atrchiterpenes A-D) and one new natural product were isolated, along with twelve known compounds.
• Compound 1, a novel N-containing eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, was identified.
• Compound 16 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 5.81±0.47 µM.

Conclusions:

• The chemical investigation of Atractylodes chinensis yielded several new and known compounds.
• The discovery of a rare N-containing sesquiterpenoid expands the known chemical diversity of this class.
• Compound 16 demonstrates potential as a cytotoxic agent, warranting further investigation for anticancer drug development.