Screening for selective anticancer activity of plants from Grazalema Natural Park, Spain

Nat Prod Res. 2019 Dec;33(23):3454-3458. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1480620. Epub 2018 May 29.

Abstract

Since plants are an important source of anticancer drugs, we have carried out a random screening for selective anticancer activity of 57 extracts from 45 plants collected in Grazalema Natural Park, an area in the South of Spain of high plant diversity and endemism. Using lung cancer cells (A549) and lung non-malignant cells (MRC-5), we found that several extracts were more cytotoxic and selective against the cancer cells than the standard anticancer agent cisplatin. Five active extracts were further tested in cancer and normal cell lines from other tissues, including three skin cell lines with increasing degree of malignancy. An extract from the leaves of Daphne laureola L. (Thymelaeaceae) showed a striking potency and selectivity on lung cancer cells and leukemia cells; the IC50 values against these cancer cells were approximately 10,000-fold lower than against the normal cells. Daphnane-type diterpene orthoesters may be responsible for this highly selective anticancer activity.

Keywords: Cancer; daphnane diterpenes; leukemia; lung cancer.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Antineoplastic Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Daphne / chemistry*
  • Diterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Diterpenes / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Spain
  • Thymelaeaceae / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Diterpenes
  • Plant Extracts
  • mezerein