Effects of strychnopentamine on cells cultured in vitro.
This paper describes the powerful cytotoxic action exerted by strychnopentamine (SP), a dimeric indole alkaloid extracted from Strychnos usambarensis Gilg, on B16 melanoma cells and on non-cancer human fibroblasts cultured in vitro. SP strongly inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell death at a relatively low concentration (less than 1 microgram/ml) after 72 h of treatment in the two lines. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]leucine by B16 cells significantly decreases after only 1 h of treatment at 0.5 microgram/ml. SP induces the formation of dense lamellar bodies and vacuolization in the cytoplasm, intense blebbing at the cell surface and various cytological alterations leading to cell death.
Quetin-Leclercq
J
J
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, University of Liége, Belgium.
De Pauw-Gillet
M C
MC
Angenot
L
L
Bassleer
R
R
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects
D000470:Alkaloids; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C045110:strychnopentamine