title: Anti-tumor activity of the crude saponins obtained from asparagus.
abstract: The crude saponins from the shoots (edible part of asparagus) of asparagus (asparagus crude saponins; ACS) were found to have antitumor activity. The ACS inhibited the growth of human leukemia HL-60 cells in culture and macromolecular synthesis in a dose and time dependent manner. The ACS at 75-100 micrograms/ml range was cytostatic. ACS concentrations greater than 200 micrograms/ml were cytocidal to HL-60 cells. The ACS at 6 and 50 micrograms/ml inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in HL-60 cells by 41, 5, and 4, respectively, or by 84, 68 and 59%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of ACS on DNA synthesis was irreversible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Cook College, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08903, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D012503:Saponins