Constituents with DNA Topoisomerases I and II Inhibitory Activity and Cytotoxicity from the Roots of Rubia cordifolia

Abstract

Activity-directed isolation of the ethyl acetate fraction from the roots of Rubia cordifolia resulted in the identification of a new anthraquinone, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-(6′-O-acetyl)-glucopyranoside (1), two new dihydronaphtoquinones, 1,4-dihydroxy-2-carbomethoxy-3-prenylnaphthalene-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and mollugin-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and a new monoterpenoid, 3R,3aS,4R,6aR-3,4,6-tris(hydroxymethyl)-3,3a,4,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-2-one (4), together with nine known compounds (5–13). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, their DNA topoisomerases I and II inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity were measured.

Key words

Rubia cordifolia - Rubiaceae - DNA topoisomerases I and II inhibitory activity - cytotoxicity

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