title: Antileukemic effects of Didemnum psammatodes (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) constituents.
abstract: Chemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the ascidian Didemnum psammatodes has led to the identification of fourteen known compounds: three methyl esters (methyl myristate, methyl palmitate and methyl stearate), four steroids (cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol), two fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid), three glyceryl ethers {(1,2-propanediol, 3-(heptadecyloxy), batyl alcohol and 1,2-propanediol, 3-[(methyloctadecyl)oxy]} and two nucleosides (thymidine and 2'-deoxyguanosine). Their structures were proposed by NMR and comparison with literature data and GC analysis in comparison with authentic sample. The cytotoxic activity of these compounds was evaluated against human leukemia cell line panel using the MTT assay. The mixture of the three methyl esters was the most active group of compounds, showing antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects. Further studies on their mode of action suggest that these activities are connected with inhibition of DNA synthesis and induction of both necrosis and apoptosis.
authors: Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Takeara
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, P.O. Box-3157, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors: Paula Christine
authors: PC
authors: Jimenez
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, P.O. Box-3157, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors: Diego Veras
authors: DV
authors: Wilke
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, P.O. Box-3157, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors: Manoel
authors: M
authors: Odorico de Moraes
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, P.O. Box-3157, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors: Cláudia
authors: C
authors: Pessoa
authors: Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Norberto
authors: N
authors: Peporine Lopes
authors: Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: João Luis Callegari
authors: JLC
authors: Lopes
authors: Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, 60165-082, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors: Tito
authors: T
authors: Monteiro da Cruz Lotufo
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, P.O. Box-3157, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: lvcosta@secrel.com.br.
authors: Letícia Veras
authors: LV
authors: Costa-Lotufo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; D014561:Urochordata / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D004952:Esters; D010455:Peptides