Cadinane sesquiterpenes from Alangium platanifolium: structural elucidation and anti-colorectal cancer biological...

A total of thirteen cadinane sesquiterpenes, including three previously undescribed compounds (1-3) and ten known analogues (4-13), were isolated from the roots of Alangium platanifolium through various phytochemical separation techniques, including silica gel column chromatography. The compounds were structurally elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). The anti-proliferative activities of these compounds were assessed against HeLa and SW620 cell lines using the CCK-8 assay. Among them, mansonone E (11) demonstrated notable cytotoxicity against SW620 cells, with an IC₅₀ of 15.69 ± 0.56 μM. Colony formation and EdU incorporation assays confirmed the significant inhibitory impact of mansonone E on SW620 cell proliferation. Transwell migration assays demonstrated that mansonone E notably inhibited the migration of SW620 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that mansonone E decreases Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, and MMP9 levels, while increases Bax and C-MYC expression. In conclusion, mansonone E effectively suppressed colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration, potentially by modulating key proteins like Bcl-2/Bax, Cyclin D1, and C-MYC. This study provides experimental evidence for mansonone E as a potential candidate for colorectal cancer treatment and provides a foundation for the application of Alangium platanifolium in colorectal cancer therapy.