Compounds 1-5 isolated from Meliae cortex were examined for their cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines in vitro by MTT method.
Among the tested compounds, all compounds possessed their potent antitumor activity. Especially compound 1 was the most active compound against human liver cancer BEL7402 cells (IC50 8.57 ¦Ìg¡¤mL?), human lung cancer H460 cells (IC50 6.29 ¦Ìg¡¤mL?), human stomach cancer SGC-7901 cells (IC50 6.08 ¦Ìg¡¤mL?).
The SAR of compounds 1-5 indicated that 16-OH was very important for keeping the cytotoxic activity of limonoids.