Potential Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Styryllactones from Goniothalamus marcanii

Goniothalamus plants belonging to the family Annonaceae are found in Thailand and have been used as Thai traditional medicines. Members of this family are rich in a wide variety of biological active compounds including alkaloids, acetogenins and styryllactones. The present research described phytochemical study of the leaves and twigs of G. marcanii together with their cytotoxicity. The G. marcanii was selected and percolated with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The extracts were purified and elucidated chemical structures. The constituents of ethyl acetate extract of G. marcanii have been investigated. We isolated and identified three derivative styryllactones e.g., 5-hydroxygoniothalamin (1), 5-acetylgoniothalamin (2) and goniopypyrone (3). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Studies on ethyl acetate extract of G. marcanii have now resulted the isolation and structural characterization of three styryllactones. Their anticancer activities were evaluated using SRB assays. In this method, compound 1 and 2 showed potential activity in cell lines.