Glossogin, a novel phenylpropanoid from Glossogyne tenuifolia, induced apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells

Glossogyne tenuifolia has been shown to exhibit good antioxidant and anticancer activity. In this study, a new phenylpropanoid compound, glossogin (1′-acetoxy-4-O-isovalyryleugenol), was isolated from ethyl acetate extract of G. tenuifolia by using column chromatography and HPLC. Its chemical structure was determined by 1H and 13C NMR, MS and IR spectroscopic evidence. This compound showed the cytotoxicity against A549 human lung cancer cell line and it induced the progressing apoptosis on A549 cells. This apoptosis was verified as A549 cells were arrested at the sub-G1 phase. The apoptosis was accompanied by release of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-9 and -3. It was also associated with the decrease in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein levels, and the increase in Bad protein expression. Data analysis suggests glossogin exerted significant apoptotic effect on A549 cells through the mitochondrial pathway. Hence, our findings showed that glossogin exhibited potential anticancer activity against lung cancer through proliferating inhibition and apoptosis induction of cancer cells.