In vivo anticancer activity of maesopsin 4-O-ß-glucoside isolated from leaves of Artocarpus tonkinensis A. Chev. Ex Gagnep.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor effect of maesopsin 4-O-ß-glucoside (TAT2) isolated from the leaves of Artocarpus tonkinensis (A. tonkinensis) A. Chev. ex Gagnep. METHODS: The antitumor activity of TAT2 was evaluated in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor-bearing mice. BALB/c mice had tumors induced by implantation with 2 × 10(6) LLC cells into the subcutaneous right posterior flank. Tumor-bearing mice were treated orally with a range of doses of TAT2 and a standard drug, doxorubicin. Animals were observed for tumor growth and mortality rate. Blood was collected to determine hematological and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: TAT2 was isolated from an ethanolic extract of A. tonkinensis leaves. Its structure was determined by MS and NMR spectroscopy, and identified as TAT2. The compound did not show acute toxicity at the highest dose tested (2000 mg/kg body weight). TAT2 exhibited antitumor activity by decreasing tumor growth, increasing the survival rate, and ameliorating some hematological and biochemical parameters at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that TAT2 possesses clear antitumor activity. Due to its bioavailability and low toxicity, and the fact that it could be isolated in a large scale from A. tonkinensis leaves, the compound shows promise as a potential anticancer drug.