Cytotoxic terpenoids from Nardophyllum bryoides

SANCHEZ, M; MAZZUCA, M.; VELOSO, M.J.; FERNANDEZ, L.; SILESS, G.; PURICELLI, L.; PALERMO, J.A.

PHYTOCHEMISTRY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2010 vol. 71 p. 1395 - 1399

0031-9422

The investigation of the ethanol extract of fresh aerial parts of the Patagonian shrub Nardophyllum bryoides collected in the province of Chubut, Argentina, yielded eleven  terpenoids. These include: three secoent-halimane diterpenoids (1–3), two ent-halimanes (4–5) and six pentacyclic oleanane and ursane triterpenoids (6–11). Four of these compounds (2, 6, 8 and 11) are hitherto unknown, while two others (1 and 4) have been previously reported but only as synthetic products. Several of these compounds showed moderate cytotoxicity against a human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line while compounds 4 and 5 were active at micromolar concentrations. The main component, seco-chiliolidic acid (1), could be isolated from this extract in large amounts, turning N. bryoides into a sustainable source of this bioactive compound.