A new cytotoxic pregnanone from Calotropis gigantea.

A new pregnanone, named calotropone (1), was isolated from the EtOH extract of the roots of Calotropis gigantea L. together with a known cardiac glycoside. The structures were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectral data. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed inhibitory effects towards chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell lines.

Introduction

The genus Calotropis (Asclepiadaceae) is comprised of about six species of shrubs distributed throughout tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. Two of them, Calotropis gigantea L. and Calotropis procera L. occur in China, and are two sister species. C. gigantea is a high biomass, fast growing perennial shrub growing as a weed in the Hainan province of China [1]. It was used as a traditional folk medicine for the treatment of anthelmintic, carminative, cough, leprosy, and asthma by the people of the Li nationality, who are autochthonous to Hainan island in China. The chemical constituents of C. gigantea have been extensively investigated, leading to the isolation of many cardenolides [2,3,4,5], flavonoids [6], terpenes [7,8,9,10], pregnanes [11,12] and a nonprotein amino acid [13]. During our screening for cytotoxic agents from tropical medicinal plants, the ethanol extract of the roots of C. gigantea showed cytotoxic activity towards human chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562) and human gastric cancer (SGC-7901) cell lines in vitro by MTT method with IC50 values of 9.7 μg/mL and 6.7 μg/mL, respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of a new pregnanone, calotropone, together with one known cardiac glycoside gofruside (2) from the ethanol extract of C. gigantea, their structures were elucidated using spectral means especially 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed significant cytotoxicity against K562 and SGC-7901 cell lines. In this paper, we describe the isolation, structural elucidation, and cytotoxicity of 1 and 2.

Structures of Compounds 1 and 2.

Results and Discussion

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract of C. gigantea led to the isolation of compounds 1 and 2. Compound 1 was obtained as yellow gum. The [M+Na]+ at m/z 491.2409 (calcd 491.2404) in the high-resolution ESI-Mass spectrum corresponded to the molecular formula C28H36O6. This formula can also be validated through 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and DEPT spectra. The IR spectrum of 1 showed absorption bands due to a hydroxyl (3,431 cm-1) and a carbonyl (1,712 cm-1) group, whereas the UV spectrum of 1 suggested the presence of a benzoyl group (absorption maxima at 241, 267, and 284 nm). The 1H-NMR spectrum of 1 suggested the presence of a benzoyl group [signals at δ 7.43 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.56 (1H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.93 (2H, d, J = 7.5 Hz)]. In addition, one olefinic proton (δ 5.41, m) and three high field methyl singlet at δ 2.06, 1.41, and 0.98 were also observed. The 13C NMR (DEPT) spectra of 1 showed the coexistence of three methyl groups, seven methylene groups, two aliphatic sp3 methine carbons, two oxygenated sp3 methine carbons, four sp3 quaternary carbon atoms, one tri-substituted double bond, one benzoyl group, and one ketone. This observation suggested that 1 was likely to be a lineolon-type compound. Comparing the 13C-NMR spectral data with those of the 12-O-benzoyllineolon showed that 1 had one tertiary carbon more and one quarternary carbon less than 12-O-benzoyllineolon [12]. The 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC spectra allowed the complete assignments of chemical shifts of 1 (Table 1). The chemical shift of C-8 of 1 was upfield shifted to δ 37.0, which suggested that C-8 was not substituted by a hydroxyl group as 12-O-benzoyllineolon. The relative stereochemistry of 1 was determined by ROESY correlations (Figure 2). Based on the above evidence, the structure of compound 1 was identified as 12β-O-benzoyl-3β,14β,17β-trihydroxy-pregnane-20-one, named calotropone.

Table 1

The NMR data of compound 1.

Position	δC	δH	HMBC
1	37.0	1.75 (1H, m, H-1a), 1.13 (1H, m, H-1b)	C-2, 3, 5, 10
2	31.4	1.81, 1.46 (each 1H, m)	C-3, 4, 10
3	71.4	3.53 (1H, m)	C-1, 2, 5
4	41.9	2.33 (1H, dd, 12.8, 3.6 Hz), 2.25 (1H, m, overlapped)	C-2, 6, 5, 10
5	139.5
6	121.1	5.41 (1H, m)	C-4, 5, 7, 10
7	26.0	2.20, 1.91 (each 1H, m)	C-5, 6, 9, 14
8	37.0	1.80 (1H, m)	C-7, 10, 14
9	42.6	1.32 (1H, m)	C-1, 5, 11, 12, 14
10	36.7
11	26.5	2.06, 1.45 (each 1H, m, overlapped)	C-8, 10, 13
12	73.1	4.80 (1H, dd, 11.3, 4.5 Hz)	C-9, 14, 17, 19, 7'
13	57.5
14	88.5
15	31.7	2.12 (1H, m, H-15a), 1.92 (1H, m, H-15b)	C-8, 13, 17
16	31.8	2.90 (1H, m, H-16a), 1.88 (1H, m, H-16b)	C-13, 14, 20
17	91.2
18	7.7	1.41 (3H, s)	C-12, 13, 14, 17
19	19.4	0.98 (3H, s)	C-1, 5, 9, 10
20	209.3
21	27.4	2.06 (3H, overlapped)	C-17, 20
1'	129.9
2'	128.4	7.93 (1H, d, 7.5 Hz)	C-1', 3', 4', 6'
3'	129.5	7.43 (1H, t, 7.5 Hz)	C-1', 2', 4', 5'
4'	133.2	7.56 (1H, t, 7.5 Hz)	C-2', 3', 5', 6'
5'	129.5	7.43 (1H, t, 7.5 Hz)	C-1', 3', 4', 6'
6'	128.4	7.93 (1H, d, 7.5 Hz)	C-1', 2', 4', 5', 7'
7'	165.3

The data were measured in CDCl3 with reference to TMS.

Figure 2

Key HMBC and ROESY correlations of compound 1.

Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against K562 and SGC-7901 cell lines using the MTT method [14], and both of them showed significant cytotoxicity against the two cell lines (Table 2).

Table 2

IC50 values for inhibition of human cell lines of compounds 1 and 2.

	Compounds (IC50, μg/mL)
Cell lines	1	2	Mitomycin C*
K562	9.2	4.7	7.1
SGC-7901	91.3	14.1	8.8

*Mitomycin C (MMC) was used as a positive control.

Conclusions

Although C. gigantea was used as a very famous traditional folk medicine by many cultures, and it has been the subject of extensive phytochemical and bioactive investigations, its chemical components and bioactivities have not been completely investigated yet. Up to now, seven oxypregnane-oligoglycosides, calotroposides A−G have been isolated from the roots of C. gigantea [5,11]. In our present study a new pregnanone was isolated and identified from the genus of Calotropis, this is the first steroidal aglycone isolated from this genus. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity against K562 and SGC-7901 cell lines of compounds 1 and 2 was evaluated for the first time, this is also the first report about the cytotoxicity of the pregnanone from this genus.

Experimental

General

Melting points were obtained on Beijing Taike X-5 stage apparatus uncorrected. The NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker AV-400 spectrometer, using TMS as an internal standard. The FAB-MS spectra were measured with a VG Autospec-3000 mass spectrometer, and the HRESI-MS spectra were measured with an API QSTAR Pulsar mass spectrometer. The IR spectra were obtained on a Nicolet 380 FT-IR instrument, as KBr pellets. The UV spectra were measured on a Beckman DU800 spectrometer. Optical rotation was recorded using Rudolph Autopol III polarimeter (U.S.A). Column chromatography was performed with silica gel (Marine Chemical Industry Factory, Qingdao, P.R. China), and Macroporous resin D101 (Shandong Lukang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.). TLC was preformed with silica gel GF254 (Marine Chemical Industry Factory, Qingdao, China), and developed by spraying with 10% H2SO4 followed by heating.

Plant material

The roots of Calotropis gigantea used in this research were collected from Eman Village of Danzhou County, Hainan Province, P. R. China, in December 2006, and authenticated by Prof. Zhu-Nian Wang of the Institute of Tropical Crops Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. The voucher specimen (No 20061201) was deposited at the Institute of Tropical Crops Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.

Extraction and isolation

The roots (26.7 kg) of Calotropis gigantea were extracted three times with 95% ethanol at room temperature. Following filtration, the combined ethanol extract was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give a crude extract. The crude ethanol extract was suspended in water (6.0 L) and successively partitioned with petroleum ether to give Petro-soluble fraction (236.1 g) and an aqueous residue. Then the aqueous residue was concentrated and applied to a D-101 resin column, eluting with H2O and MeOH, successively, the MeOH eluent was collected and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford the “MeOH fraction” (yield 256.1 g). The MeOH fraction was subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) over silica gel, eluting with gradient elution CHCl3-MeOH (100:0, 50:1, 25:1, 10:1, 5:1, 2:1, MeOH) to afford seven fractions (Fr.1−Fr.7). Fr.1 (56.3 g) was subjected to further column chromatography over silica gel, with petroleum ether-acetone (6:4) as eluent, to afford compound 1 (32 mg). Fr.4 (20.3 g) was subjected to column chromatography over silica gel, eluting with gradient elution CHCl3-MeOH to afford 2 (35 mg).

Calotropone (1): Yellow gum, [α]−89.7° (c 0.26, MeOH); HR-ESI-MS: m/z [M+Na]+ 491.2409( calcd. For C28H36O6Na, 491.2404); IRν (cm-1): 3431, 2918, 2849, 1712, 1629, 1463, 1275, 1110; UVλmax nm (CHCl3): 241, 267, 284; 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3), 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3 ): Table 1.

Gofruside (2) [15,16]: C29H40O9, Colorless needles; m.p. 165 − 167 °C; IR (KBr) λmax (cm-1): 3437, 2937, 1738; FAB-MS (neg.) m/z 535 [M−H]−; 1H-NMR (400Hz, CD3OD): δ 5.88 (1H, brs, H-22), 5.02, 4.89 (each 1H, d, J = 18.3 Hz, H-21), 4.70 (1H, d, J = 7.9 Hz, H-1'), 3.69 (1H, m, H-3), 3.65 (1H, m, H-5'), 3.29 (1H, brs, H-3'), 3.23 (1H, dd, J = 2.5, 7.7 Hz, H-2'), 3.14 (1H, dd, J = 1.8, 9.4 Hz, H-4'), 1.20 (3H, d, J = 6.0 Hz, H-6'), 0.91 (3H, s, H-18); 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CD3OD): δ 32.1 (C-1), 30.2 (C-2), 78.7 (C-3), 37.0 (C-4), 45.1 (C-5), 30.0 (C-6), 28.6 (C-7), 43.8 (C-8), 51.9 (C-9), 52.8 (C-10), 22.9 (C-11), 40.6 (C-12), 50.9 (C-13), 86.1 (C-14), 32.8 (C-15), 27.9 (C-16), 52.0 (C-17), 16.3 (C-18), 210.4 (C-19), 178.3 (C-20), 75.3 (C-21), 117.9 (C-22), 177.2 (C-23), 99.9 (C-1'), 72.4 (C-2'), 72.9 (C-3'), 74.3 (C-4'), 70.5 (C-5'), 18.2 (C-6').

Cytotoxicity bioassay

Compounds 1 and 2 were examined for their cytotoxic activity against chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell lines. Cancer cells were incubated for 3 days at 37 °C in the presence of various concentrations of compounds from DMSO-diluted stock solutions. The growth inhibitory property was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) assay as described by Mosmann [14].