Activity-Guided Isolation of Scopoletin and Isoscopoletin, the Inhibitory Active Principles towards CCRF-CEM Leukaemia Cells and Multi-Drug Resistant CEM/ADR5000 Cells, from Artemisia argyi

Abstract

The ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia argyi leaves showed substantial inhibition in a cell proliferation assay using human CCRF-CEM leukaemia cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of scopoletin and isoscopoletin as the active principles. Their IC₅₀ values were 2.6 and 4.0 μM, respectively. Additionally the two substances were tested against the multidrug resistant subline, CEM/ADR5000 where they both showed IC₅₀ values of 1.6 μM. In contrast to the standard cytostatic drugs doxorubicin, vincristine, and paclitaxel, CEM/ADR5000 cells therefore did not exhibit cross-resistance to scopoletin and isoscopoletin.

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