Bioactivity evaluation of cudraxanthone I, neocyclomorusin and (9βh)-3β-acetoxylanosta-7,24-diene isolated from Milicia excelsa Welw. C. C. Berg (Moraceae)

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of three compounds isolated from the methanolic extract of the roots bark of Milicia excelsa (Moraceace) namely cudraxanthone I (1), neocyclomorusin (2) and (9βH)-3β-acetoxylanosta-7,24-diene (3). The cytotoxic activities of the compounds were determined using the xCELLigence system (Real Time Cell Analyzer). The compounds of cudraxanthone I and neocyclomorusin exhibited the excellent cytotoxic effects on the growth of human cervical epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines (IC50 < 10 µg/mL). Among the compounds; neocyclomorusin showed the highest radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.73 ± 0.01 mg/mL). The compounds exhibited low antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. This study supports the documented medicinal effects of the compounds and opens up the possibilities of pharmaceutical applications.