Antiproliferative metabolites from the Northern African endemic plant Daucus virgatus (Apiaceae)

Chemical analysis of the aerial parts obtained from the Northern African endemic plant Daucus virgatus yielded to the isolation of three new sesquiterpenoids, the daucane vaginatin B (6), the eudesmane 7 and the elemane elemavirgolide (8), along with five known metabolites. The stereostructures of the new compounds were determined by a detailed MS and NMR analysis. The isolated metabolites were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three human cell lines, A375 (melanoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), and HACAT (keratinocyte). The phytoalexin 6-methoxymellein (1) revealed a previously unreported antiproliferative activity, while eudesmane 7 and elemavirgolide exhibited a selective activity against tumor cell lines.