Isolation, identification, and cytotoxicity evaluation of phytochemicals from chloroform extract of Spathodea campanulata

Background: Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. known as the African tulip tree has potential medicinal properties that have been shown traditionally for the treatment of various ailments. The aim of the present study was isolation, identification, and evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of phytochemicals from the chloroform extract of S. campanulata. Result: Three compounds were isolated by using column chromatography and preparative TLC from chloroform extract of leaves of S. campanulata. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods, including, FTIR, ESI-TOF MS, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. In vitro cytotoxic activity of compounds was evaluated by using SRB assay against human leukemia cancer cell lines (HL-60). Results were expressed in IC50 values. Stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol, octadecenamide, and umbelliferone were isolated and identified from chloroform extract. The isolated compounds showed cytotoxicity with decreasing cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, but it was found low as compared to positive control, i.e., Adriamycin against HL-60 cell lines. Conclusion: The results indicate that isolated compounds, i.e., stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol (44.12 mu g/ml), octadecenamide (35.65 mu g/ml), and umbelliferone (80.60 mu g/ml) showed antiproliferative activity, but it was low compared to positive control Adriamycin (10.09 mu g/ml). Also, according to our knowledge, this study is the first report on the isolation and identification of octadecenamide and umbelliferone from the leaves of S. campanulata.

Automated summary

This study isolated and identified three compounds from the chloroform extract of Spathodea campanulata leaves. These compounds exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity, although their effectiveness was lower compared to the positive control drug Adriamycin. Additionally, this study reported the first isolation and identification of octadecenamide and umbelliferone from the leaves of S. campanulata.