Cadinane sesquiterpenes from Alangium platanifolium: structural elucidation and anti-colorectal cancer biological evaluation

A total of thirteen cadinane sesquiterpenes, including three previously undescribed compounds (1–3) and ten known analogues (4–13), were isolated from the roots of Alangium platanifolium through various phytochemical separation techniques, including silica gel column chromatography. The compounds were structurally elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). The anti-proliferative activities of these compounds were assessed against HeLa and SW620 cell lines using the CCK-8 assay. Among them, mansonone E (11) demonstrated notable cytotoxicity against SW620 cells, with an IC₅₀ of 15.69 ± 0.56 μM. Colony formation and EdU incorporation assays confirmed the significant inhibitory impact of mansonone E on SW620 cell proliferation. Transwell migration assays demonstrated that mansonone E notably inhibited the migration of SW620 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that mansonone E decreases Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, and MMP9 levels, while increases Bax and C-MYC expression. In conclusion, mansonone E effectively suppressed colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration, potentially by modulating key proteins like Bcl-2/Bax, Cyclin D1, and C-MYC. This study provides experimental evidence for mansonone E as a potential candidate for colorectal cancer treatment and provides a foundation for the application of Alangium platanifolium in colorectal cancer therapy.