Rhoifolin; A Potent Antiproliferative Effect on Cancer Cell Lines

Aims: To investigate the cytotoxic activity of rhoifolin against different cancer cell lines.
Study Design: Isolation, identification and cytotoxic activity evaluation.
Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University and Al-Azhar University, between October, 2010 and January, 2011.
Methodology: Rhoifolin, Apigenin 7-O-β neohesperidoside was isolated in a copious amount from the leaves of Chorisia crispiflora (Bombaceae). Its identity was unambiguously confirmed via different spectroscopic methods (UV, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and HMBC) and viability assay test was used to evaluate its cytotoxic activity.
Results: It exhibited potent anticancer activities, nearly similar to that of vinblastine, when evaluated against human epidermoid larynex (Hep 2) and human cervical (HeLa) carcinoma cell lines. Promising activities were also obtained against hepatocellular (Hep G2), colon (HCT-116) and fetal human lung fibroblast (MRC-5) carcinoma cell lines. A unique effect of rhoifolin was in having no cytotoxic activity against healthy normal cells (Vero cells) which indicates a high selectivity of this compound.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that rhoifolin could be used as an ideal anticancer agent. It discriminates between cancerous and non cancerous cell as it kills only the former one. So the side effects which may appear during chemotherapy could be overcome.