Resumen:
Cardenolides are a family of steroid-type compounds, which due to their biological activity,
have become consolidated as possible anticancer agents. The Apocynaceae family is the
main source of these compounds, of which about 25% show anticancer activity. In this
research, six species of the Apocynaceae family present in the Ecuadorian Amazon were
considered: Himatanthus tarapotensis, Himatanthus bracteatus, cf. Aspidorperma
excelsum, Rauvolfia praecox y Tabernamontana sananho; being Nerium oleander the
model specie. In the methanolic extracts of these six species was evaluated the presence
of oleandrin and other cardenolides, as well as the cytotoxic activity in two cancer cell lines,
HeLa and D-384. It was found that the species H. tarapotensis, H. bracteatus, and cf A.
excelsum possess cardenolides, among them oleandrin. Furthermore, these extracts
showed strong cytotoxic activity in the evaluated cell lines without producing marked
hemolytic effects. The cytotoxic activity shown by H. tarapotensis, H. bracteatus and cf. A.
excelsum is greater than N. oleander and can be attributed to an additive or synergistic
effect between cardenolides and another family of compounds such as triterpenoids,
indole alkaloids or iridoids reported in Apocynaceaes. The results obtained confirm the
potential that plant can present in the search for new agents against complex diseases.
