Cytotoxic Compounds From Dioscorea Membranacea Against Three Types Of Colon Cancer Cells

Abstract

Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai (Dioscorea membranacea Pierre) have been commonly used among ingredients in Thai traditional anticancer preparations.  The rhizome of D. membranacea was found potently cytotoxic against colon cancer cells.  Thus the objective of this research was  to identify cytotoxic compounds from the extract of Dioscorea membranacea rhizomes by bioassay-guided isolation using three types of colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2, LS-174T and SW480) and the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The results found that the ethanolic extract of D. membranacea showed cytotoxic activity against only two types of colon cancer cell lines; LS-174T and SW480, with IC₅₀ values 45.97±0.64 and 62.83±0.51 µg/ml, respectively, but there was no cytotoxic activity against Caco-2 cells. It water extract had no cytotoxicity against all types of colon cancer cells.  Dioscorelide B and dioscoreanone were isolated from its ethanolic extract by bioassay guided isolation and both compounds exhibited high potency against three types of colon cancer cell line with the IC₅₀ in range 0.67-4.36 µg/ml.  This study supports the use of D. membranacea by Thai traditional doctors for colon cancer treatment.