lignans and imbricatolic-acid

Imbricatolic acid was isolated from the methanolic extract of the fresh ripe berries of Juniperus communis (Cupressaceae) together with sixteen known compounds and a new dihydrobenzofuran lignan glycoside named juniperoside A. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with the spectral data reported in literature. Imbricatolic acid was evaluated for its ability to prevent cell cycle progression in p53-null CaLu-6 cells. This compound induces the upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and their accumulation in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, as well as the degradation of cyclins A, D1, and E1. Furthermore, no significant imbricatolic acid-induced apoptosis was observed. Therefore, this plant-derived compound may play a role in the control of cell cycle.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cyclins; Diterpenes; Fruit; G1 Phase; Glycosides; Humans; Italy; Juniperus; Lignans; Mice; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Rabbits; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment; Time Factors; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53