Antitumor Activity of 23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin D Isolated from Bryonia alba L.

  • Sohn, Hyung-Ok (Laboratory of Biochemistry, Korea Ginseng and Tobacco Research Institute) ;
  • Lee, Young-Gu (Laboratory of Biochemistry, Korea Ginseng and Tobacco Research Institute) ;
  • Lim, Heung-Bin (Department of Tobacco Science, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Kwon, Nyoun-Soo (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Goorgen V. Aprikian (Institute of Biochemistry, Armenian National Academy of Sciences) ;
  • Lee, Dong-Wook (Laboratory of Biochemistry, Korea Ginseng and Tobacco Research Institute)
  • Published : 2000.12.01

Abstract

The cytotoxic and antitumor activity of 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D (dhc D) isolated from Bryonia alba L. was examined. Our results showed that dhc D strongly inhibited the viability of the cultured cancer cells, A-549, COLO 205, SK-MEL-2, and L121O. It also exhibited effective antitumor activity in ICR mice, which had been intra peritoneally implanted with sarcoma 180 ascites tumor cells. The dhc D also strongly inhibited the viability of immortalized macrophages RAW 264.7, but not normal peritoneal macrophages. These results indicate that dhc D has antiproliferative effect on cancer cells and it may more sensitive on immortalized cells than normal cells.

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