Isolation, identification, and characterization of α- asarone, from hydromethanolic leaf extract of L. and its apoptosis-inducing mechanism in A549 cells.

Due to the presence of several active secondary metabolites, the traditional Indian and Chinese medicinal herb L. has been utilized for both medical and culinary purposes since ancient times. A recent report has underscored the promising cytotoxic effect of leaves extract against non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Thus, we want to separate the bioactive substance from the hydromethanolic extract of leaves in the current investigation. Thin-layer chromatography was used to separate the compounds and different spectroscopic methods (UV, FTIR, NMR, and LCMS/MS) were used for the structure prediction. asarone was found to be the main bioactive compound present and it was isolated from leaves extract. It exerted a good cytotoxic effect with an IC value of 21.43 ± 1.27 μM against A549 cells and IC value of 324.12 ± 1.32 μM against WI-38 cells. The induction of apoptosis in A549 cells by αasarone was reaffirmed by the diverse differential staining methods including DAPI, Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide, and Giemsa staining. Additionally, α-asarone induced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) dissipation with a concomitant increase in the production of ROS. Furthermore, it also increased expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-8, DR4, and DR5 genes in A549 cells. In conclusion, α-asarone-induced apoptotic cell death in non-small lung cancer cells (A549) as a result of loss of mitochondrial function, increased ROS production, subsequent activation of an internal and extrinsic caspase pathway, and altered expression of genes controlling apoptosis. As a whole, αasarone is a plausible therapeutic agent for managing lung cancer. HIGHLIGHTSIsolation of bioactive compound from hydromethanolic leaves extract of L. by thin layer chromatography.Structural elucidation of the bioactive compound was carried out using different methods like UV analysis, FTIR, NMR, and LC-MS/MS analysis.A plausible mode of action revealed that α-asarone can induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells (A549).Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.