Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology 58 (4) (2020) 442-449 doi:10.15625/2525-2518/58/4/14877 LIGNANS FROM LEAVES OF AMESIODENDRON CHINENSE AND THEIR CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY Ho Van Ban1, 2, 3, Trinh Thi Thanh Van1, *, Vu Van Chien1, Nguyen Thi Hue1, Pham Thi Hang1, Nguyen Le Tuan3, Nguyen Xuan Nhiem1, 2, Pham Van Cuong1, 2, Nguyen Quoc Vuong1, 2, * 1Institue of Marine Biochemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Viet Nam 2Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Viet Nam 3Natural Science department, Quy Nhon University, 170 An Duong Vuong, Quy Nhon, Viet Nam *Email:
[email protected] Received: 9 March 2020; Accepted for publication: 30 June 2020 Abstract. Four lignans, (+)-aptosimon (1), (+)-isolariciresinol (2), (-)-cleomiscosin A (3), and (-)-cleomiscosin C (4) were isolated from the leaves of Amesiodendron chinense (Mer.) Hu. Their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis including MS, 1D and 2D NMR as well as by comparison with reported literatures. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines, KB, SK-LU-1, MCF-7, HepG-2, and SW-480. The compounds showed weak cytotoxic activity with IC50 values ranging from 32.61 to 95.18 µg/mL. Keywords: Amesiodendron chinense, lignans, cytotoxic activity. Classification numbers: 1.1.1, 1.2.1. 1. INTRODUCTION Lignans, considered as phytoestrogens, are widely found in plant kingdom and they created an enormous class of pharmacological active compounds. The current evidences highlight the bioactive properties of lignans as human health-promoting molecules, especially cancer prevention [1 - 4].