Isolation of epi-oleanolic acid from Korean mistletoe and its apoptosis-lnducing activity in tumor cells.
A triterpene was isolated as a cytotoxic principle from the dichloromethane extract of Korean mistletoe (KM; Viscum album coloratum) by repeated silica gel chromatography and recrystallization. In in vitro analysis of cytotoxic activity using various human and murine tumor cell lines, the dichloromethane extract of KM was highly cytotoxic against these cells. We isolated the most active compound, referred to VD-3, from the dichloromethane extract of KM. The VD-3 was shown to be less cytotoxic to normal cells (murine splenocytes). From the identification of the chemical structure of VD-3 by spectral data and chemical synthesis, the compound was proven to be epi-oleanolic acid. Tumor cells treated with VD-3 showed a typical pattern of apoptotic cell death, such as apparent morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that epi-oleanolic acid is an important compound responsible for antitumor activity of KM.
Division of Applied Biology and Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
Myung Ju
MJ
Jung
Yung Choon
YC
Yoo
Kyung Bok
KB
Lee
Jong Bae
JB
Kim
Kyung Sik
KS
Song
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D051379:Mice; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018514:Plant Structures; D028182:Viscum album
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009828:Oleanolic Acid