title: In vitro cytotoxicity of tanshinones isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells.
abstract: The cytotoxic effect of four tanshinones isolated from the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) were studied in vitro using P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells. Tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA were shown to be quite strongly cytotoxic against the cells (86.76% and 56.05% cell inhibition at 25 microg/ml). Dihydrotanshinone I and cryptotanshinone, which lack of saturation at C-15, showed little cytotoxicity (13.71% and 39.21% cell inhibition at 25 microg/ml). The results also revealed a structure activity relationship. We suggest that the unsaturation at C-15 and saturation on ring A may be critical structural components for cytotoxicity in these diterpenes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Phytochemistry, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia. mamosaddik@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mosaddik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts