title: Immunomodulatory and antitumoral effects of triterpenoid saponins.
abstract: Genuine saponins of Solidago virgaurea L., Heteropappus altaicus (Willd.) Novopokr., Heteropappus biennis (Ldb.) Tamamsch. and Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae) as well as related carbohydrate modified glycosides of polygalacic acid and echinocystic acid and some commercial available triterpenoid saponins were investigated in view of their immunomodulating and antitumoral effects. Mitogeneic effects on murine spleen and thymus cells, as well on human mononuclear cells in vitro could be demonstrated. The activity of murine bone marrow macrophages was stimulated in a chemoluminescence assay, and further an induction of cytotoxic macrophages and a TNF alpha release from murine macrophages was observed. The mitogeneic and TNF alpha releasing virgaureasaponin E (1) showed in vivo antitumoral effects in the allogeneic sarcoma 180 tumor model and in the syngeneic DBA/2-MC.SC-1 fibrosarcoma tumor model. In mice, treated with 1, phagocytosis of bone marrow cells and proliferation of spleen and bone marrow cells were stimulated in an ex vivo assay whereby the TNF alpha concentration in blood considerably increased compared to the control group.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plohmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiller
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franz
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008934:Mitogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000188:drug therapy; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D008934:Mitogens; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes