Abstract
The activity-directed fractionation upon the MeOH extract of the root ofTrichosanthes kirilowii led to the isolation of eight cucurbitane triterpenes namely cucurbitacin B (I), isocucurbitacin B (II), cucurbitacin D (III), isocucurbitacin D (IV), 3-epi-isocucurbitacin B (V), dihydrocucurbitacin B (VI), dihydroisocucurbitacin B (VII) and dihydrocucurbitacin E (VIII), as active principles. All isolates were shown to exhibit significant cytotoxicity against cultured human tumor cells, including A-549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF-498 and HCT 15, with an exceptionally high potency.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
References Cited
Arisawa, M., Pezzuto, J. M., Kinghorn, A. D., Cordell, G. A. and Farnsworth, N. R., Plant anticancer agents XXX., Cucurbitacins fromIpomopsis aggregate (Polemoniaceae).J. Pharm. Sci., 73(3), 411–413 (1984).
Feng, Z., Ng, T. B., Li, W. W. and Yeung, H. W., Improved Isolation and further characterization of betatrichosanthin, a ribosome-inactivating and abortifacient protein from tubers ofTrichosanthes cucumeroides (Cucurbitaceae).Int. J. Biochem., 23, 561–567 (1991).
Hikino, H., Yoshizawa, M., Yutaka, S., Oshima, Y. and Konno, C. Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of trichosans A, B, C, D and E: glycans ofTricosanthes kirilowii roots.Planta Med., 55(4), 349–350 (1989.
Hylands, P. J. and Magd, M. S., Cucurbitacins fromAcanthosicyos horridus.Phytochemistry, 25(7), 1681–1684 (1986).
Kanaoka, M., Yoshizaki, M. and Fujino, H., Studies on the constituents ofTrichosanthes species. I. Chem. Pharm. Bull., 30(7), 2570–2574 (1982).
Kitajima, J. and Tanaka, Y., a) Studies on the constituents ofTrichosanthes root. I.Yakugaku Zasshi, 109(4), 250–255 (1989); b) Studies of the constituents ofTrichosanthes root. IV., 109(9), 677–679 (1989).
Konopa, J., Matuszkiewicsz, A., Hrabowska, M. and Onoszka, K., Cucurbitacines, cytotoxic and antitumor substances fromBryonia alba L.Arzneim. Forsch., 24(11), 1741–1743 (1974).
Kupchan, S. M., Gray, A. H. and Grove, M. D., Tumor inhibitors. XXIII., The cytotoxic principles of Marah oreganus H.J. Med. Chem., 10, 337–340 (1967).
Kupchan, S. M. and Tsou, G., The structure and partial synthesis of Fabacein.J. Org. Chem., 38, 1055–1056 (1972).
Kupchan, S. M., Sigel, C. W., Guttman, L. J., Restivo, R. J. and Bryan, R. F., Datiscoside, a novel antileukemic cucurbitacin glycoside fromDatisca glomerata.J. Am. Chem. Soc., 94(4), 1353–1354 (1972).
Kupchan, S. M., Tsou, G. and Sigel, C. W., Datiscacin, a novel cytotoxic cucurbitacin 20-acetate fromDatisca glomerata.J. Org. Chem., 38(7), 1420–1421 (1973).
Kupchan, S. M., Meshulam, H. and Sneden, T., New cucurbitacins fromPhormium tenax andMarah oreganus.Phytochemistry, 17, 767–769 (1978).
Laurie, W. A., McHale, D. and Sheridan, J. B., A cucurbitacin glycoside fromPicrorhiza kurrooa.Phytochemistry, 24(11), 2659–2661 (1985).
Lien, E. J. and Li, W. Y., Structure-activity relationship analysis of chinese anticancer drugs and related plants. pressed byOriental Healing Arts Institute. 47–49 (1984).
Ryu, S. Y., Choi, S. U., Lee, C. O. and Zee, O. P., Antitumor activity ofPsoralea corylofolia.Arch. Pharm. Res., 15(4), 356–359 (1992).
Ryu, S. Y., Choi, S. U., Lee, S. H., Lee, C. O., No, Z. and Ahn, J. W., Cytotoxicity of cucurbitacinin vitro. Arch. Pharm. Res., 17, in press (1994).
Shohat, B., Beemer, A. M., Gitter, S. and Lavie, D., Antifertility activity of dihydroelatericin A in the female mouse.Experientia., 28, 1203–1205 (1972).
Shrotria, A., Cucurbitacins-A new class of growth sustances.Botanica, 26, 28–31 (1976).
Skehan, P., Streng, R., Scudiero, D., Monks, A., McMahon, J., Vistica, D., Warren, J. T., Bokesch, H., Kenney, S. and Boyd, M. R., New colorimetric cytotoxicity assay for anticancer-drug screening.J. Natl. Cancer. Inst., 82, 1107–1112 (1990).
Velde, V. V. and Lavie, D.,13C NMR spectroscopy of cucurbitacins.Tetrahedron, 19 (2), 317–321 (1983).
Yamada, Y., Hagiwara, K., Iguchi, K., Takahashi, Y. and Suzuki, S., Carbon-13 NMR spectral assignments of cucurbitacin aglycones.Chem. Lett., 319–322 (1978).
Yesilada, E., Tanaka, S., Sezik, E. and Tabata, M., Isolation of an anti-inflammatory principle from the fruit ofEcballium elaterium.J. Nat. Prods., 51(3), 504–508 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ryu, S.Y., Lee, S.H., Choi, S.U. et al. Antitumor activity ofTrichosanthes kirilowii . Arch. Pharm. Res. 17, 348–353 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974175
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974175