Abstract:In this study, a compound was obtained from the n-butanol fraction of the active part of Lycoris radiate Herb. The compound was identified as 7-deoxynarciclasine by mass spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. To study the cytotoxicity of 7-deoxynarciclasine against normal human cells (LO2 cells and HFF-1 cells), and its effect on the cell viability of human cervical cancer cells (Hela cells) and human colon cancer cells (HT-29 cells) were examined. The results showed that human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1 cells) were more tolerant to 7-deoxynarciclasine than normal human hepatocytes (LO2 cells). The concentration of 7-deoxycycline, which led to a LO2 cell survival rate higher than 80%, was applied to HT-29 and Hela cells. As a result, the median lethal concentration (IC50) of 7-deoxynarciclasine to HT-29 or Hela cells was 17.04 μM and 6.39 μM respectively. These values were lower than those of 5- fluorouracil against HT-29 (22.45 μM) or Hela cells (37.05 μM), and that against LO2 (40.11 μM). These findings indicate that 7-deoxynarciclasine may significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells without affecting significantly the normal cells.
