Pongamol from the seeds of Tephrosia purpurea exert anti-cancer activity against cervical cancer cell line

Tephrosia purpurea belongs to the family Fabaceae, is used for the treatment of inflammation, diabetes, cancer, chronic fever, boils, gingivitis etc. In the present study, three compounds (TP-1, TP-3 and TP-5) were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of the seeds of T. purpurea (EETP). Quantity of TP-3 (6.05%) in EETP was determined by HPLC. In-vitro anti-cancer activity of EETP and isolated compound TP-3 on SiHa cells as well as PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5- di methyl thiazol -2-yl)-2,5-di phenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis and physical properties, structure of isolated compounds TP-1, TP-3 and TP-5 were characterized as teclenone, pongamol and ss-sitosterol respectively. Isolated compound TP-3 showed cytotoxicity against SiHa cells with the IC50 33.06 mu gmL(-1). TP-3 showed significant cytotoxicity at the concentration range from 20-50 mu gmL(-1) as compared to control. Maximum cytotoxicity (72.75%) was observed at the concentration of 50 mu gmL(-1). TP-3 showed non-significant cytotoxicity against PBMCs cells at all the concentrations except at 50 mu gmL(-1) (cytotoxicity 24.19%). EETP showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50 value 113.63 mu gmL(-1)) against SiHa cells at the concentration range from 75-150 mu gmL(-1) as compared to control. Maximum cytotoxicity (75.34%) was observed at the concentration of 150 mu gmL(-1).