Optimization of Extraction Conditions and Cytotoxic Activity of Rapanone in Comparison to Its Homologue, Embelin

Rapanone is a plant-derived simple alkyl-dihydroxybenzoquinone structurally close to embelin, a well-known cytotoxic agent. The pharmacological characterization of rapanone is still incomplete, and to fill the data gap, a good source for its acquisition is required to conduct further research. This study aimed to optimize the conditions for the extraction of rapanone from the leaves of white-berried Ardisia crenata Sims. For this purpose, three methods were employed: heat reflux (HRE), shaking (SE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and such parameters as the extraction time, solvent, and the number of extractions from the same sample were set as experimental variables. Furthermore, cytotoxic activity toward prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and colorectal carcinoma cell lines was investigated and compared with doxorubicin and embelin. The most effective and economical method for the extraction of rapanone was shown to be 20 min UAE with ethyl acetate or chloroform. Rapanone exhibited high cytotoxic activity against PC3 (IC(50) = 6.50 μg/mL), Du145 (IC(50) = 7.68 μg/mL), FTC133 (IC(50) = 6.01 μg/mL), 8505C (IC(50) = 7.84 μg/mL), and Caco-2 (IC(50) = 8.79 μg/mL) cell lines after 24 h and against the HT29 cell line after 48 h (IC(50) = 11.67 μg/mL). Furthermore, it revealed a more favorable safety profile than either its homologue, embelin, or doxorubicin. The set of optimal extraction parameters obtained may be utilized for scientific and industrial purposes to achieve the best rapanone yield. Moreover, this benzoquinone revealed a high cytotoxic activity with good selectivity.