Phytother Res. 2003 Mar; 17(3): 282-4.

In vitro cytotoxicity activity of Diosquinone, a naphthoquinone epoxide.

Adeniyi BA, Robert MF, Chai H, Fong HH.

Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Diosquinone [1], a naphthoquinone epoxide previously isolated from the root bark of Diospyros mespiliformis (Hostch) and D. tricolor [Ebenaceae] is been assessed for cytotoxicity activity against ten cancer cell lines by standard NIH method. The ethno-pharmacological claim of this plant and the previously observed good antibacterial activity of this compound among the others isolated from this plant suggest its probable cytotoxicity activity. Diosquinone was observed to be very active against most of the cancer cell lines. It shows very good activity against all the cell lines tested with ED50 value ranging between 0.18 microg/ml. against Human Glioblastoma (U373) to 4.5 microg/ml. against Hormone dependent human prostrate cancer( LNCaP).Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.