Diterpenoids from Torreya grandis and their cytotoxic activities

Abstract

Eight previously undescribed diterpenoids, along with eleven previously reported analogues, were obtained from the supercritical CO₂ extracts of Torreya grandis aril. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on HRESIMS, NMR, ECD, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. In the MTT assay, compound 18 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on two human colon cancer cell lines, HT-29 and HCT 116 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 7.37 μM and 6.55 μM, respectively. It was found that compound 18 induced apoptosis and significantly inhibited the migration of HCT 116 colon cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cytotoxicity; Diterpenoids; HCT 116; HT-29; Taxaceae; Torreya grandis.