Abstract

The purpose of this report is to explore the cytotoxicity effects of extracts and compounds from Commiphora myrrha resin on human gynecologic cancer cells. The results showed that AE (85% EtOH extract), and petroleum ether extract (PE) from C. myrrha significantly inhibited cell proliferation of A2780, SK-OV-3, and Shikawa with dose-dependent relation in vitro. The inhibitory effects of AE and PE on A2708 cell were strongest and the IC₅₀s were 15.8 and 26.91 µg/ml, respectively. The IC₅₀s of AE and PE on Shikawa cell lines were 20.73 and 26.63 µg/ml respectively. Furthermore, nine compounds were isolated and identified from bio-activity guided separation fraction, and were determined the cytotoxicity activity on A2780, SK-OV-3, SiHa cells and Shikawa cells. Compounds 1- 4, 6 and 7 are isolated from this genus for the first time. The compound 6 and 7 exhibited obvious cytotoxicty effects on A2780, SK-OV-3, and Shikawa cancer cells with dose-dependent relationship. The antiprolifirative activity of compound 6 on A2780 cells was most obviously with IC₅₀ 46.89 µM. The compound 7 with IC₅₀ 26.93 µM inhibited cell growth of SK-OV-3 cells. The determined compounds have never shown antiproliferative activities on SiHa cells. These findings suggested that extracts and compounds from myrrh could be useful for preventing and treating human gynecologic cancer disease.

Key words: Commiphora myrrha, cytotoxicity activity, human gynecologic cancer cell lines.