A bioassay-guided isolation was used to identify anti-tumour constituents in defatted adlay seed meal.
Four phenolic compounds were isolated and identified from defatted adlay seed meal.
N1,N5-Di-[(E)-p-coumaroyl]-spermidine showed the highest anti-tumour activity.
Levels of the anti-apoptotic and apoptotic proteins in HepG2 cells treated with compound 1 were detected.