Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory constituents from the seeds of Descurainia sophia.

A new sinapoyl glycoside, 1,3-di-O-sinapoyl-β-D-glucopyranose (1) along with 13 known compounds, including, sinapoyl glycosides (2 and 3), cardenolide glycoside (4), flavonoids (5-10), lignan (11), phenolic acids (12 and 13), and phytosterol (14), were isolated from the seeds of Descurainia sophia by chromatographic separation methods. The structures of 1-14 were determined by the interpretation of spectroscopic data as well as by comparison of that data with previously reported values. Compounds 2, 3, 5, 6, and 11 were identified in and isolated from this plant for the first time in this study. All isolates were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against seven human cancer cell lines and for in vitro anti-inflammatory potential using LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophages. Compound 4 showed potent cytotoxicity (IC50 values ranging from 0.034 to 0.596 μM) against all human cancer cell lines tested and was identified as the main active cytotoxic constituent of this plant. Compound 8 (ED50 = 5.45 μM) and 11 (ED50 = 10.02 μM) exerted dose-dependent inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.