Effect of Eucommiol Isolated from Aucuba (Aucuba japonica Thunb) on the Growth of Human Lymphoid Leukemia Cells

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of crude extract prepared from leaves of Japanese aucuba (Aucuba japonica Thunb) on the growth of human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells. The extract suppressed the growth of these cells by 60% at the concentration of 200 μg/ml. Fraction III obtained by separation with HW40S gel chromatography inhibited the growth of the cells by 95% at the same concentration. We analyzed the structure of the compound contained in Fraction III, and identified it as eucommiol by NMR and MS. The antiproliferative effect of eucommiol on the growth of Molt 4B cells was examined, and it was found to moderately suppress the proliferation of Molt 4B cells by 41% at the concentration of 200 μg/ml.