Studies on Constituents with Cytotoxic Activity from the Stem Bark of Syringa velutina

Abstract

Cytotoxic compounds, oleuropein (1) and a phenylethanoid glycoside (2) were isolated from the stem bark of Syringa velutina KOM. along with coniferylaldehyde 4-O-glucoside, syringin, ligstroside, (+)-syringaresinol 4-O-glucoside, (+)-medioresinol 4"-O-glucoside and (-)-olivil 4"-O-glucoside. Phenylethanoid glycoside (2) was identified to be 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. THis compound showed the most potent cytotoxic effect on several tumor cell lines (P-388, L-1210, SNU-5 and HL-60) among eitht compounds isolated in the present study. We suggest that the 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylethoxy moiety of this compound contributes to cytotoxicity.