Abstract
Aizoon africanum (L.) Klak (Synonym Galenia africana L.) is traditionally used for a variety of medicinal purposes; however, it has been reported to cause liver damage and severe ascites, particularly in sheep and Angora goats in the arid regions of the Western Cape. This study explores its cytotoxic properties to identify potential cytotoxic compound(s) in the plant. The methanolic extract of A. africanum was re-investigated and subjected to various chromatographic techniques, including preparative HPLC, resulting in the isolation of eight compounds (1–8). Structural elucidation was primarily based on NMR data. Among the isolated compounds, four were flavanones, one was a flavonone, and three were chalcones. Notably, compound 8 was identified as a new chalcone, while compounds 2 and 3 were reported for the first time from this plant. The toxicity of these isolated compounds was evaluated against the HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. We further investigated markers of cell death using spectrophotometric and luminometric methods. Among the isolated compounds, 7 and 8 exhibited cytotoxic activities within the range of 3.0–20.0 µg/mL. Notably, the compounds demonstrated greater cytotoxicity towards liver-derived HepG2 cells compared to the neuronal SH-SY5Y cell line. Compound 7 (2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone) was identified as inducing apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway without causing overt necrosis. The findings indicate that the phytochemicals derived from A. africanum exhibit differential cytotoxic effects based on cell type, suggesting potential for developing novel anticancer agents, particularly compound 7. Additionally, the identification of compound 8 provides insight into the liver toxicity of this plant observed in sheep in South Africa.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Eight compounds were isolated from A. africanum.
- Taxon
- A. africanum
Aizoon africanume0 - Outcome
- isolation of eight compounds (1–8)e0
- Value
- eight compoundse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The methanolic extract of A. africanum was re-investigated and subjected to various chromatographic techniques, including preparative HPLC, resulting in the isolation of eight compounds (1–8).”
Claim · model-written summary
The isolates included four flavanones, one flavonone and three chalcones.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Outcome
- four were flavanones, one was a flavonone, and three were chalconese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Among the isolated compounds, four were flavanones, one was a flavonone, and three were chalcones.”
t0“Aizoon africanum”
Claim · model-written summary
Compound 8 was identified as a new chalcone.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Material
- compound 8e0
- Outcome
- new chalconee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compound 8 was identified as a new chalcone”
t0“Aizoon africanum”
Claim · model-written summary
Compounds 2 and 3 were reported for the first time from this plant.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Material
- compounds 2 and 3e0
- Outcome
- reported for the first time from this plante0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compounds 2 and 3 were reported for the first time from this plant”
t0“Aizoon africanum”
Claim · model-written summary
Compound 7 was cytotoxic at 3.0–20.0 µg/mL.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Material
- 7e0
- Outcome
- cytotoxic activitiese0
- Value
- 3.0–20.0 µg/mLe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“7 and 8 exhibited cytotoxic activities within the range of 3.0–20.0 µg/mL.”
t0“Aizoon africanum”
Claim · model-written summary
Compound 8 was cytotoxic at 3.0–20.0 µg/mL.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Material
- 8e0
- Outcome
- cytotoxic activitiese0
- Value
- 3.0–20.0 µg/mLe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“7 and 8 exhibited cytotoxic activities within the range of 3.0–20.0 µg/mL.”
t0“Aizoon africanum”
Claim · model-written summary
The compounds were more cytotoxic toward HepG2 than SH-SY5Y cells.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Outcome
- cytotoxicitye0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Comparator
- neuronal SH-SY5Y cell linee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the compounds demonstrated greater cytotoxicity towards liver-derived HepG2 cells compared to the neuronal SH-SY5Y cell line.”
t0“Aizoon africanum”
Claim · model-written summary
Compound 7 induced intrinsic-pathway apoptosis without overt necrosis.
- Taxon
- Aizoon africanumAizoon africanumt0
- Material
- Compound 7e0
- Outcome
- inducing apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway without causing overt necrosise0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compound 7 (2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone) was identified as inducing apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway without causing overt necrosis.”
t0“Aizoon africanum”