title: Avicins, a family of triterpenoid saponins from Acacia victoriae (Bentham), inhibit activation of nuclear factor-kappaB by inhibiting both its nuclear localization and ability to bind DNA.
abstract: Triterpenoid saponins, which are present in leguminous plants and some marine animals, possess a broad range of biological actions. We have earlier reported the extraction of avicins, a family of triterpenoid saponins obtained from the Australian desert tree Acacia victoriae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) that inhibit tumor cell growth and induce apoptosis, in part, by perturbing mitochondrial function. These saponins have also been found to prevent chemical-induced carcinogenesis in mice. This study examines the effect of a triterpene mixture (F094) and a single molecular species (avicin G) isolated from the mixture on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in Jurkat cells (human T cell leukemia). Both F094 and avicin G were found to be potent inhibitors of TNF-induced NF-kappaB. Treatment of Jurkat cells with avicin G resulted in a much slower accumulation of the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB into the nucleus whereas the degradation of IkappaBalpha was unaffected. Avicin G also impaired the binding of NF-kappaB to DNA in in vitro binding assays. Treatment of cells with DTT totally reversed the avicin G-induced inhibition of NF-kappaB activity, suggesting that sulfhydryl groups critical for NF-kappaB activation were being affected. Avicin G treatment resulted in decreased expression of NF-kappaB-regulated proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Thus, the avicins may prove important for reducing both oxidative and nitrosative cellular stress and thereby suppressing the development of malignancies and related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Therapeutics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haridas
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Arntzen
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Gutterman
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics; D012503:Saponins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012503:Saponins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008156:Luciferases; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases