Cytotoxic activity of Secondary Metabolites from Marine-derived Fungus Neosartorya siamensis in Human Cancer Cells

Compounds isolated from the marine sea fan-derived fungus Neosartorya siamensis (KUFA 0017), namely, 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylacetophenon (1), chevalone C (2), nortryptoquivaline (4), tryptoquivaline H (6), tryptoquivaline F (7), fiscalin A (8), epi-fiscalin A (9), epi-neofiscalin A (11) and epi-fiscalin C (13) were tested for anti-proliferative activity by MTT assay, DNA damage induction by comet assay, and induction of cell death by nuclear condensation assay on colon HCT116, liver HepG2 and melanoma A375 cancer cell lines. Compounds 2, 4, 8, 9, 11 and 13 presented IC50 values ranging from 24 to 153 mu M in the selected cell lines. Cell death was induced in HCT116 by compounds 2, 4 and 8. In HepG2, compounds 4, 8, 9 and 11 were able to induce significant cell death. This induction of cell death is possibly not related to genotoxicity because none of the compounds induced significant DNA damage. These results suggest that selected compounds present an interesting anti-proliferative activity and cell death induction, consequently showing potential (specifically epi-fiscalin C) as future leads for chemotherapeutic agents. Further studies on mechanisms of action should ensue. Copyright (C) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.