title: Relationships between inhibitory activity against a cancer cell line panel, profiles of plants collected, and compound classes isolated in an anticancer drug discovery project.
abstract: In an attempt to determine the relationships between the plant profiles (country of collection, taxonomy, plant part) and the compound classes isolated with cytotoxic activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines, the data compiled from a 15-year anticancer drug-discovery project were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicate significant trends in cytotoxic activity relative to collection location, taxonomy, plant part, and compound classes isolated. Plant collections were made in tropical forests in six countries, with collections from Ecuador resulting in higher activity than those from Indonesia and Peru. Interestingly, collections from Florida were not statistically different than those from the countries with higher biodiversity. One hundred and forty-five families were represented in the collections, with the Clusiaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Meliaceae, and Rubiaceae having low ED50 (half maximal effective dose) values. Especially active genera included Aglaia, Casearia, Exostema, Mallotus, and Trichosanthes. Roots and below-ground plant materials were significantly more active than above-ground materials. Cucurbitacins, flavaglines, anthraquinones, fatty acids, tropane alkaloids, lignans, and sesquiterpenoids were significantly more active than xanthones and oligorhamnosides. The results from this study should serve as a guide for future plant collection endeavors for anticancer drug discovery.
authors.affiliation: Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street (M/C 781), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Marcy J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Balunas
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Young-Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Qiuwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Farnsworth
authors.forename: Djaja D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Soejarto
authors.forename: Geoffrey A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cordell
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: Hee-Byung
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: A Douglas
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kinghorn
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic