Cytotoxic and COX-2 inhibitory constituents from the aerial parts of Aralia cordata

Three diterpenes (1, 8, and 9), three triterpenes (3, 4, and 7); one saponin (11), four sterols (2, 5, 6, and 12), and one cerebroside (10) were isolated from the EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Aralia cordata by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Their chemical structures were identified by comparing their physicochemical and spectral data with those published in literatures. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against L1210, K562, and LLC tumor cell lines using MTT assay. Of which, 3 beta,5 alpha-dihydroxy-6 beta-methoxyergosta-7,22-diene (6) showed a potent cytotoxicity against all cell lines with IC50 values of 11.7, 11.9, and 15.1 mu M, respectively, while compounds 1, 5, and 11 showed a moderate or weak cytotoxicity. These isolates were also examined for their inhibitory activity against COX-1 and COX-2. Although most compounds, except for 2, 10, and 12, showed a strong inhibitory activity against COX-1, they exhibited a moderate or weak inhibitory activity against COX-2.