Antiproliferative potential of root bark extract of Adenodolichos Paniculatus (Hua & Hutch) against ovarian human cancer cell lines (A2780)

Herbal medicines remain a major birthplace of lead compounds for drug discovery and development. Adenodolichos paniculatus Hua & Hutch (Fabaceae) is a plant whose root bark was claimed to be used against diabetes mellitus and cancer in traditional medicine. This study aimed to isolate antiproliferative compounds from root barks of Adenodolichos paniculatus through bioassay-guided fractionation and to investigate the antiproliferative potentials of the isolated compounds against ovarian human cancer cell lines (A2780). The powdered root bark of Adenodolichos paniculatus was extracted with dichloromethane for 72 h to afford dichloromethane extract (DCM). The DCM was solvent-partitioned into hexane and aqueous methanol fractions. Based on the results of preliminary studies against the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line, the bioactive fraction (Hexane) was subjected to various chromagraphic techniques leading to the isolation of a triterpenoid saponin. The triterpenoid was screened against A2780 and subjected to various spectral analyses such as 1H, 13C NMR and MS to elucidate and characterise its structure. A triterpenoid saponin, 3,22-dihydroxy-3-O-β-D-glucosyloleanane isolated displayed antiproliferative effect against the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line, with IC50 value of 0.033 μM when compared with the standard Paclitaxel (IC50 = 0.013μM). The results significantly support the traditional use and the study revealed that the isolated compound possesses potential health benefits which might serve as a good molecular template in drug design for the development of new antiproliferative agents.