The bioassay-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of aerial parts of
Plumbago zeylanica led to the isolation of β-sitosterol, β-sitosteryl-3β-glucopyranoside, β-
sitosteryl-3β-glucopyranoside-6′-O-palmitate (1), lupenone, lupeol acetate, plumbagin and
trilinolein. Compound 1 showed cytotoxic activity against MCF7 and Bowes cancer cell lines
(IC50 113 μM and 152 μM, respectively), β-sitosterol inhibited Bowes cell growth (IC50 36.5
μM) and plumbagin was cytotoxic against MCF7 and Bowes cells (IC50 1.28 μM and 1.39 …