Further constituents and bioactivities of Vietnamese Euphorbia tirucalli L

Building on our previous studies, the aerial parts of Vietnamese Euphorbia tirucalli were analysed for their phytochemistry via headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, column chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography. From the EA extract, 25 compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry, including a new tirucallane triterpenoid (tirucallenone A, (1)). The PE extract was found to be the most effective against Jurkat cells (IC₅₀ = 22.38 μg.mL⁻¹), while the aqueous extract was revealed to exhibit the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory capacity (IeC₅₀ = 115.80 μg.mL⁻¹) and the highest intracellular ROS scavenging activity (S = 61.41%). The ROS scavenging and apoptosis-inducing effect studies on Jurkat cells indicated that these cells were killed via the sub-G1 cells accumulation, nuclei fragmentation, and intracellular oxidative stress modulation. Besides, gallic and 3,3',4'-tri-O-methylellagic acids were the most notable in cytotoxicity against Jurkat cells (IC₅₀ = 31.68 and 66.41 μM, respectively).