Target isolation and anti-proliferative potency of furocoumarin derivative from Aegle marmelos fruit pulp

Aegle marmelos is a member of the Rutaceae family and a source of diverse biological properties. Most studies have focused on the extract from the dried fruit pulp, but the fresh pulp remains unexplored. This study reports the crystal isolation of imperatorin from fresh fruit pulp using ethyl acetate extract which was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. Quantitative measurement revealed that ripe fruits contained significantly higher levels of imperatorin than unripe fruits. Imperatorin exhibited an anti-proliferative activity against breast cancer cells, with a GI50 of 21 µM. The continuous live cell imaging of HeLa cells exposed to imperatorin showed apoptosis as the mode of cell death.