Lapathoside A Isolated from Fagopyrum esculentum Induces Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Background/aim Lapathoside A, a phenylpropanoid ester, was isolated from the roots of buckwheat by searching for bioactive compounds against human pancreatic cancer cells. Materials and methods Buckwheat root extracts, prepared by 70% ethanol, were separated into n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water fraction by solvent partitioning. Seven fractions were obtained from the ethyl acetate fraction by liquid chromatography, and fraction No. 6 contained lapathoside A. The effects of lapathoside A on Panc-1 and SNU-213 human pancreatic cancer cell lines were examined. Results The structure of lapathoside A was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Next, we investigated whether lapathoside A has anticancer activity in human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1 and SNU-213). After treatment with 25 μM lapathoside A, viability of PANC-1 and SNU-213 cells decreased to about 40 and 27%, respectively. In addition, lapathoside A treatment also increased apoptosis while affecting the expression levels of apoptotic proteins. Conclusion The effect of lapathoside A on apoptosis was confirmed in pancreatic cancer cell lines, supporting the application of lapathoside A in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.