Abstract

Background and objectives: The genus Homalomena belongings to the Araceae family. Secondary metabolites afforded from this genus show various bioactivities. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition and cytotoxicl activities of compounds isolated from n-hexane extract of rhizomes of Homalomena pendula. Materials and methods: The rhizomes of Homalomena pendula were collected from Lam Dong, Vietnam in January 2021. Extraction methods included maceration, liquid-liquid and solid- liquid partition. Isolation of pure compounds was carried out by a combination of various chromatographic methods. Chemical structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods. Evaluation of cytotoxic activity was performed by Skehan’s method. Results: 3 sesquiterpenoids (α-cadinol, homalomenol C, taiwaninone A) and 1 steroid (sitoindoside I) were isolated. α-cadinol inhibited SK-LU-1 and HEK-293A with IC 50 of 97.75 ± 4.38 µM and 92.52 ± 2.80 µM, respectively. Sitoindoside I inhibited SK-LU-1, MCF7, Hep G2, 8505c and HEK-293A with IC50 of 44.05 ± 1.91 µM; 48.97 ± 3.93 µM; 60.64 ± 2.18 µM; 48.15 ± 5.51 µM and 57.22 ± 5.20 µM, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first report on the cytotoxic activity of compounds isolated from Homalomena pendula.