title: Evaluation of the mutagenic, cytotoxic, and antitumor potential of triptolide, a highly oxygenated diterpene isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii.
abstract: Triptolide, a highly oxygenated diterpene isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (Celastraceae), has been shown to demonstrate potent antileukemic activity in rodent models at remarkably low treatment doses. A variety of other physiological responses are known to be mediated by this compound, including immunosuppressive and antifertility effects. We currently report that triptolide was not mutagenic toward Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677, either in the presence or absence of a metabolic activating system. Relatively potent but non-specific cytotoxicity was observed with a panel of cultured mammalian cell lines, and modest antitumor activity was observed when an i.p. dose of 25 microg was administered three times weekly to athymic mice carrying human breast tumors. Treatment regimens involving higher doses of triptolide (e.g. 50 microg/mouse three times weekly) were lethal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Shamon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wangcharoentrakul
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sangsuwan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaichana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tuchinda
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cleason
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reutrakul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C001899:triptolide