Evaluation of Antiulcer and Cytotoxic Potential of the Leaf, Flower, and Fruit Extracts of <i>Calotropis procera</i> and Isolation of a New Lignan Glycoside

Abstract

<i>Calotropis procera</i> is traditionally used for treating many diseases including ulcers and tumors. It was thus deemed of interest to investigate and compare the antiulcer and cytotoxic activities of <i>C. procera</i> leaf, flower, and fruit extracts in an attempt to verify its traditional uses. Phytochemical studies on the fruits, flowers, and leaves of <i>C. procera,</i> collected from the desert of Saudi Arabia, led to the isolation of one new lignan 7'-methoxy-3'-<i>O</i>-demethyl-tanegool-9-<i>O</i>-<i>β</i>-d-glucopyranoside and five known compounds from the flowers, four compounds from leaves, and a flavonoid glycoside and a lignan glycoside from the fruits. The structures of compounds were determined by spectroscopic techniques. Ethanol extracts of the three parts of <i>C. procera</i> were evaluated for their antiulcer activity and we found that the leaf extract possessed a powerful antiulcer activity which could be considered as a promising drug candidate. All the extracts and the isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, HCT-116, HepG-2, and A-549 human cancer cell lines. Compound <b>2</b> was highly active on all the cell lines, whereas compounds <b>5</b> and <b>11</b> were more selective on colon and liver cell lines. Compound <b>10</b> demonstrated a significant activity on liver and lung cancer cell lines.