Main Article Content

Terpenoids from the roots of Ceriops tagal induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-3 enzyme


M Chacha

Abstract

Dolabr-4(17),15(16)-dien-3-one, isopimar-8(14)-en-15,16-diol, isopimar-8(14)-en-16-hydroxy-15-one, lupeol, lup-20(29)-en-3â,28-diol and lup-20(29)-en-3â-hydroxy-28-oic acid were isolated from the roots of a
marine mangrove Ceriops tagal (Rhizophoraceae). The compounds were evaluated for activation of caspase-3 enzyme using Caspase-3 Colourimetric Assay. Caspase-3 enzyme was activated by all compounds in cleaving
pNA from Ac-DEVD-pNA in the presence of caspase-3-inhibitor; Ac-DEVD-CHO. Lup-20(29)-en-3â- hydroxyl-28-oic acid, isopimar-8(14)-en-15,16-diol and isopimar-8(14)-en-16-hydroxy-15-one cleaved 41.7, 39.42 and 34.19 ìmol/L of pNA respectively. This study is therefore demonstrating that the isolated
compounds may serve as leads for development of new chemotherapeutic drugs which acts by inducing apoptosis in the cancerous cells.

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1997-342X
print ISSN: 1991-8631