title: Toxic effect of alantolactone and dihydroalantolactone in in vitro cultures of leukocytes.
abstract: Alantolactone, an allergenic sesquiterpene lactone, is toxic to leukocytes in in vitro cultures. Cell (1 X 10(6) cells/ml of culture) stimulation by pokeweed mitogen (PWM) decreases with increasing amounts of terpene. A concentration of 1 mug/ml of culture decreases stimulation by 50%. The reduced terpene, dihydro-11,13-alantolactone (DHA) is also toxic. A concentration of 1.7 mug/ml of culture of DHA brings about a 50% decrease in stimulation. Both compounds affect cell viability as measured by dye exclusion. It is suggested that the toxicity of alantolactone is not due to the presence of the alpha-methylene group conjugated to the carbonyl function of the gamma-lactone system.
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D007783:Lactones; D037102:Lectins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; C004363:alantolactone; D013936:Thymidine