Cytotoxic effects of triterpenoid saponins from Androsace umbellata against multidrug resistance (MDR) and non-MDR cells

Arch Pharm Res. 2010 Aug;33(8):1175-80. doi: 10.1007/s12272-010-0807-z. Epub 2010 Aug 28.

Abstract

Cytotoxicity-guided fractionation and separation of MeOH extract from Androsace umbellata (Lour.) Merr. led to the isolation of four triterpenoid saponins. Compounds isolated from the n-BuOH soluble fraction were identified as saxifragifolin C (1), A (2), B (3), and D (4) by spectroscopic analysis. Antiproliferative effect of isolated compounds were evaluated by the sulforhodamin B assay against multidrug resistance (MDR; MES-SA/DX5 and HCT15/CLO2) and non-MDR (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, MES-SA, and HCT15) human tumor cell lines. All compounds exhibited strong cytotoxicity against non-MDR human tumor cell lines with IC(50) values of 0.19-2.37 muM. MDR cells and non-MDR cells had similar sensitivity to these compounds, however, MDR cells were highly resistant to doxorubicin. Compounds 1-4 induced an increase in the percentage of Annexin V-binding cells, indicating that 1-4 induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, the condensation of nuclei, a characteristic morphological change of apoptosis, was observed in RAW 264.7 cells by the treatment with n-BuOH fraction, compounds 3 and 4, respectively.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Primulaceae / chemistry*
  • Saponins / administration & dosage
  • Saponins / isolation & purification
  • Saponins / pharmacology*
  • Triterpenes / administration & dosage
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Saponins
  • Triterpenes
  • Doxorubicin