Acetogenin content of pawpaw (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) extract and antiproliferative activity of acetogenins against gastric (AGS) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells

Annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) of extracts from different parts (roots, twigs, and leaves) of pawpaw (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) tree was evaluated, and the antiproliferative activities of the major ACGs from pawpaw extracts against human gastric carcinoma (AGS) and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells were investigated. The acetogenin constituents of the extracts were determined using HPLC-DAD. Antiproliferative effects of acetogenins were performed between 6.25 and 400 μM concentrations against AGS and HeLa cell lines. Among the extracts, the highest yield was obtained from 80% methanol of leaves (15.38%), and the lowest value was obtained from 80% methanol of twigs (3.97%). Generally, annonacin and aromin were determined as the main ACGs of pawpaw extracts. Interestingly, cis-annonacin was detected only in 80% methanol extract from twigs. Annonacin exhibited better effects than aromin against AGS and Hela cells. For AGS cells, the highest antiproliferative activity was obtained from annonacin with a cell viability of approximately 5% at a concentration of 400 μM (p<0.001). These results demonstrate that the pawpaw extracts have the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and give a basis to the commercial utilization of pawpaw trees as sources of natural anticancer compounds.