Cytotoxic Diterpenoids from Euphorbia fischeriana

Abstract

Five new diterpenoids, named euphorfischerins A-E, were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were determined by interpretation of NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD and X-ray diffraction data. Euphorfischerin A showed cytotoxicity against the human cancer cell lines HeLa, H460 and Namalwa with IC₅₀ values of 4.6, 11.5 and 16.4 μM, respectively, while euphorfischerin B gave comparable IC₅₀ values of 9.5, 17.4 and 13.3 μM against the three cancer cell lines, respectively.

Keywords: Euphorbia fischeriana; Euphorbiaceae; cytotoxic activities; diterpenoids; euphorfischerins.