Cytotoxicity of Aporphine Alkaloids from the Roots of Annona Reticulata on Human Cancer Cell Lines

Phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Annona reticulata components suggest a wide range of clinical application in lieu of cancer therapy. Present study includes investigation of bioactive constituents from roots of Annona reticulata for cytotoxic properties against different cancer cell lines. Three aporphine alkaloids liriodenine (AAR-01), norushinsunine (AAR-02) and reticuline (AAR-03) isolated from the roots of Annona reticulata. The structures of the compounds were established by 1HNMR, 13CNMR and Mass spectral analysis. All the isolated compounds subjected for cytotoxicity evaluation against A-549, K- 562, HeLa, MDA-MB cancer cell lines and normal cell lines (Vero cells) by MTT assay. All the isolated compounds exhibited prominent dose-dependent cytotoxicity against all the cancer cell lines at dilutions 5, 10 and 20 μg/ml, whereas AAR-02 showed strong cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 7.4 to 8.8 μg/ml. Simultaneously, the effect of all the isolated compounds against Vero cell lines was lower in comparison with the cancer cell lines. The prominent cytotoxicity of three aporphine alkaloids viz liriodenine (AAR-01), norushinsunine (AAR-02) and reticuline (AAR -03) may be because of isoquinoline moiety in their structures. The appearance of hydroxyl group at C-7 in AAR-02 could be favorable for increased cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines and lower cytotoxicity against Vero cell line seems that the aporphine alkaloids (AAR-01, AAR-02 and AAR-03) may be used as chemopreventive agents in cancer therapy.