Two compounds (7-O-methylmearnsitrin (7-OM) and roseoside A (RA) were identified and characterized from the leaves of Leea aequata (L. aequata) L. The cytotoxicity of 7-OM and RA on HeLa cells was performed using MTT. The 7-OM and RA showed significant inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation with an IC50 of 22 and 20 µg/mL, respectively when compared with the standard vincristin sulphate (VS) (IC50 of 15 µg/mL). Moreover, the 7-OM and RA significantly inhibit other cancer cells (HEK-293, H228, and H3122) when compared with the VS and the cytotoxic activity of the compounds might show through the induction of apoptosis. Strikingly, annexin-V and PI signals could barely be detected in control cells, while strong fluorescence densities were observed in response to treatment indicating that these compounds have capacity to induce HeLa cell apoptosis. Our results suggest that the anticancer activity of 7-OM and RA was due to the induction of apoptosis.
Keywords: 7-O-methylmearnsitrin; apoptosis; cancer cell lines; cytotoxicity; roseoside A.