Cytotoxic activity of 9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol from Eulophia nuda against human cancer cells

A phenanthrene derivative 9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol was isolated from Eulophia nuda and identified as a promising cytotoxic agent against human cancer cell lines MCF-7 (13% cell survival) and MDA-MB-231 (19% cell survival) at 100 μg/ml concentration. Eulophia nuda L. (Orchidaceae) is a medicinally important terrestrial orchid used for the treatment of tumours and various health problems by the local healers throughout the Western Ghats region in Maharashtra (India). To isolate the active molecule from Eulophia nuda and to study its cytotoxic potential against human cancer cells. The crude methanolic extract of Eulophia nuda tubers was fractionated by stepwise gradient of the solvents—chloroform–methanol to isolate the pure compound. Isolated pure compound was assessed for its cytotoxic potential against human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 using MTT assay. Structure elucidation of the isolated active compound was carried out by extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, NOESY, COSY, LC–MS and IR. The isolated active molecule was identified as phenanthrene derivative 9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol. This compound showed good antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (91%) and MDA-MB-231 (85%) at 1000 μg/ml concentration. 9,10-Dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol from Eulophia nuda tubers showed good growth suppressive effect against human cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 making it a potential biomolecule against human cancer.