ABSTRACT
The cytotoxicity of a hexanic fraction produced from the ethanolic crude extract, obtained from Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill, Euphorbiaceae, roots was evaluated against ten human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, NCI-ADR/RES, OVCAR-3, PC-3, HT-29, NCI-H460,786-O, UACC-62, K-562, U251) compared with doxorrubicine as positive control. Compounds jatrophone and cyperenoic acid were isolated from the hexanic extract and characterized by spectroscopic techniques (NMR of ¹H, 13C and IR). The in vitro antiproliferative activity of jatrophone showed selectivity in a concentration dependent way with Total Inhibition growth of: glioma 0.57 µg mL-1 (U251), breast cancer 9.2 µg mL-1 (MCF-7), adriamycin-resistant ovarian cancer 0.96 µg mL-1 (NCI-ADR/RES), kidney 4.2 µg mL-1 (786-0), prostate cancer 8.4 µg mL-1 (PC-3), colon cancer 16.1 µg mL-1 (HT29) and leukemia 0.21 µg mL-1 (K-562).