Anti-Leukemic Activity of Sulfonoquinovosyldiacylglyceride (SQDG): a Constituent of Azadirachta Indica Leaves

The sulfonoquinovosyldiacylglyceride (SQDG) isolated from the leaves of Azadirachta indica showed significant anti-leukemic activity in human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562 with IC50 of 9 lg/ml. SQDG treated leukemic cells showed chromatin condensation, apoptotic body formation, and increased caspase 3 production indicating apoptosis. Cell cycle study revealed that the treated leukemic cells accumulated in the sub-G1 phase; the cell cycle was halted in this phase and the DNA content decreased in other phases