Identification of limonoids from Walsura yunnanensis and evaluation of their cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines

Three new limonoids, walsurauias A-C (1-3), along with four known ones, were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Walsura yunnanensis C. Y. Wu. Their structures were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. The new limonoids were screened for their cytotoxic activity (IC50 0.81-5.73 mu M) against four human cancer cell lines, including A549, HepG2, HCT116 p21KO and CNE-2. And alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone moieties in rings A and B are essential for their cytotoxic activity. Selected compounds were further investigated. Compounds 1-3 effectively induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in cancer cells. In addition, compounds 1-3 inhibited the colony formation and compounds 2 and 3 suppressed the migration of cancer cells.

Automated summary

In this study, three new limonoids were isolated from Walsura yunnanensis, and their cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells was evaluated. The compounds showed significant inhibition of cell growth and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.