Cytotoxic pterosins from Pteris multifida roots against HCT116 human colon cancer cells

Two new pterosin glycosides, (2S,3S)-pterosin C 3-O-β-d-(4′-(E)-caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside (1) and (2S,3S)-pterosin C 3-O-β-d-(6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from Pteris multifida (Pteridaceae) roots along with ten known pterosin compounds (3–12). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of the 1D, 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and CD spectroscopic data. The cytotoxicities of 1–12 against HCT116 human colorectal cancer cell line were evaluated. Among the isolates, compound 1 showed moderate antiproliferative activity in HCT116 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 8.0 ± 1.7 μM. Additionally, 1 induced the upregulation of the caspase-9 and procaspase-9 levels in Western blots and increased the annexin V/propidium iodide (PI)-positive cell population in flow cytometry.