A polyacetylene compound was isolated from the aerial parts of Centella asiatica. The chemical structure of this new compound was identified as methyl 5-[(E)-9-hydroxy-1-(1-hydroxyhexyl)-2-methoxyundeca-3,10-diene-5,7-diynyloxy]pentanoate (cadiyenol). This compound induces apoptosis (63%) independent of cell cycle regimen in mouse lymphoma cells (P388D1) at 28 microM (IC (50) = 24 +/- 2 microM) in 24 hours. The compound also reduces nitric oxide production by 70 +/- 2% in lipopolysacharride-activated mouse macrophages at 24 microM with no measurable cytotoxicity.
