Bioactivity of a polyhydroxy gorgostane steroid from Xenia umbellata

• Published in: Open Chemistry 2022-12, Vol.20 (1), p.1531-1537
• Main Authors: Bawakid, Nahed O., Althagbi, Hanan I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antiproliferation; MMP-2; Octocorallia; Red Sea; steroids
• ISSN: 2391-5420; 2391-5420
• DOI: 10.1515/chem-2022-0257

A C-30 steroid, 3β-,5α-,6β-,11α-,20β-pentahydroxygorgosterol was isolated from the soft coral Lamarck (Xeniidae). The chemical structure was elucidated by examining the NMR spectral data and comparison with the previously published data. Compound inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer (SKOV-3), breast cancers (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Notably against HepG2, compound showed significant effect with an IC value of 19.70 ± 1.98 µg/mL. It significantly increased the population in the SubG1 phase for 2.01- and 2.05-folds, respectively, compared to untreated cells. Additionally, it showed potent inhibitory activities of superoxide dismutase (384.6 vs 8594.2 U/g protein in dimethyl sulfoxide-treated cells), catalase (0.3 vs 0.07 U/g protein), decreased the level of reduced glutathione (1.7 vs 0.6 mg/g protein) and the activity of matrix metalloproteases (MMP-2 and MMP-9 [0.5-fold of change in MMP activity]) in HepG2 cells. The results indicated the potent antiproliferative activity of the gorgostane derivative ( ) against HepG2 cells. This study provides a scientific basis of the antiproliferative effects of steroidal compound with gorgostane nucleus against hepatocellular carcinoma cells.