Jatropha-6(17),11E-diene class derivatives induce apoptosis effects in OVCAR-3 and Caov-4 ovarian cancer cell lines via a mitochondrial pathway.

We investigated the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by novel jatropha-6(17),11E-diene class derivatives, compounds A, B, and C that were extracted from Euphorbia osyridea Boiss, in the ovarian cancer cell lines Caov-4 and OVCAR-3. The OVCAR-3 and Caov-4 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of these compounds. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT, clonogenic survival assay, and flow cytometry assays. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm ), and the activity of caspase 3 and 9 were evaluated. Compounds A, B, and C reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The IC50 values were calculated as 46.27 ± 3.86, and 38.81 ± 3.30 μmol/L for compound A, 36.48 ± 3.18 and 42.59 ± 4.50 μmol/L for compound B, and 85.86 ± 6.75 and 75.65 ± 2.56 μmol/L for compound C against the Caov-4 and OVCAR-3 cell lines, respectively. Apoptosis evaluation showed that jatrophane derivatives increase both early and late apoptosis (P < 0.01). These compounds also increased ROS generation, ΔΨm , and the activity of caspase 3 and 9 in the treated cells. These results showed that compounds A and B have significant inhibitory effects on OVCAR-3 and Caov-4 proliferation and induction of apoptosis.