# Dentatacid A: An Unprecedented 2, 3-Seco-arbor-2, 3-dioic Triterpenoid from the Invasive Plant Euphorbia dentata, with Cytotoxicity Effect on Colon Cancer

## TL;DR

A new triterpenoid compound from the invasive plant Euphorbia dentata shows strong cytotoxic effects against colon cancer cells.

## Contribution

Discovery of dentatacid A, a novel triterpenoid with a unique 2,3-seco-arbor-2,3-dioic skeleton and potent anti-cancer activity.

## Key findings

- Dentatacid A exhibited excellent anti-proliferative activity against HT-29 colon cancer cells with an IC50 of 2.64 ± 0.78 μM.
- The compound has an unprecedented chemical structure within the proposed biosynthetic pathway.
- Network pharmacology and molecular docking confirmed the anti-cancer potential of dentatacid A.

## Abstract

Euphorbia dentata Michx. is an invasive plant species in China, known for its toxicity and potential to reduce crop yields, posing numerous threats. To gain a deeper understanding of this invasive plant, phytochemical methods were employed to isolate 13 terpenoids (1–11, 19, 20) and 7 sterols (12–18) from the ethanol extract of E. dentata, identifying one new compound and 19 known compounds. Within spectroscopic methods such as NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and ECD, the structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were established. Among them, dentatacid A (11) possesses an unprecedented 2, 3-seco-arbor-2, 3-dioic skeleton within the potential biosynthetic pathway proposed. Dentatacid A also exhibited excellent anti-proliferative activity against the HT-29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) cell line, with an IC50 value of 2.64 ± 0.78 μM, which was further confirmed through network pharmacology and molecular docking. This study significantly expands the chemical diversity of E. dentata and offers new insights into the resource utilization and management of this invasive plant from the perspective of natural product discovery.