title: Cytotoxicity of two triterpenoids from Nigella glandulifera.
abstract: During an investigation of antitumor substances from Nigella glandulifera Freyn et Sint. (Ranunculaceae) the cytotoxicity of two oleanane triterpene saponins isolated from the seeds of this species, kalopanaxsaponins A and I, was evaluated against HepG2, drug resistant HepG2 (R-HepG2) (two hepatocyte cell lines) and primary cultured normal mouse hepatocytes. Evident cytotoxic activities were observed. Morphological observations and cell cycle analysis suggest that these compounds inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma by inducing apoptosis and consequently kalopanaxsaponins A and I may be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of parental and drug resistant hepatoma.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, PR China. ze.tian@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Si-Bao
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun-Shan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Pei-Gen
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Liao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Erxi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D031844:Nigella / Q000737:chemistry*; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; C460644:kalopanax saponin A; C117027:kalopanax saponin I; D009828:Oleanolic Acid