Effect of Benzylic Oxygen on the Cytotoxic Activity for Colon 26 Cell Line of Phenolic Lignans

Abstract

The cytotoxic activity for colon 26 cell line of matairesinol, oxidized matairesinol, 9,9′-epoxylignan and oxidized 9,9′-epoxylignan were examined. (−)-Matairesinol (Mat 1) showed greatest cytotoxic activity (LC₅₀=9 μg/ml) of the lactone-type lignans. 7,7′-Oxomatairesinol having same steric configuration as that of (−)-matairesinol showed greater activity (LC₅₀=25 μg/ml) than hydroxy or mono-oxomatairesinol. The activities of 9,9′-epoxylignan and 7,7′-oxo-9,9′-epoxylignan having same steric configurations as (−)-matairesinol were weaker than that of corresponding matairesinols. Different activity levels were observed between enantiomers.