A CYTOTOXIC CONSTITUENT FROM SOPHORA-FLAVESCENS

A cytotoxic constituent was isolated by bioassay-guided procedure from the roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton (Leguminosae). The constituent was identified as sophoraflavanone G (I) by means of chemical methods and in comparsion with spectral data of standard compound. The ED50 va lues of constituent I were 0.78, 1.57, 2.14 and 8.59 mu g/ml against A 549, HeLa, K562 and L1210 cell lines, respectively. Constituent I exhi bited highly cytotoxic activities against A 549, K562 and HeLa cells, but showed a mild activity (ED50 value, 5 mu g/ml) against L1210 cells . Among the tested cell lines, A549 cells were the most sensitive to c onstituent I.