Sesquiterpenoids from the stem bark of Aglaia pachyphylla Miq (Meliaceae) and cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 Cancer Cell Line

Sesquiterpenoids are terpenoid-derived compounds formed from three isoprene units with diverse pharmacological activities. Sesquiterpenoids can be obtained from higher plants, such as the genus Aglaia from the Meliaceae family. This study aims to isolate and characterize the structure of sesquiterpenoidsfrom the n-hexane extract of Aglaia pachyphylla Miq stem bark and to determine their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The n-hexane extract was separated and purified by various chromatography techniques such as vacuum liquid chromatography, normal-phase chromatography, and reversed-phase chromatography to obtain three sesquiterpenoids. The chemical structures of sesquiterpenoids were identified by various spectroscopic analyses such as IR, MS, 1D-NMR, and 2D-NMR and compared with previously reported spectrum data. Three sesquiterpenoids were identified as β-caryophyllene oxide (1), 1β-Hydroxy-4(15),5-eudesmadiene (2), and spathulenol (3). The three compounds were tested against MCF-7 breast cancer cells using the PrestoBlue method. Compound 2 showed the highest cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value of 262,25 µM.