title: Synthesis of novel spirostanic saponins and their cytotoxic activity.
abstract: This study was carried out to assess the cytotoxicity of several new synthetic steroidal saponins against the human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60 and U937) and against human melanoma cells (SK-MEL-1). Several diosgenyl glycosides analyzed showed strong cell growth inhibition which was associated with alterations in cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis. Studies of cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation suggest a main role of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in the mechanism of cytotoxicity caused by this kind of compounds.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología-C.S.I.C., Antonio González, Av. Astrofísico F. Sánchez 3, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brouard
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bermejo
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053453:Caspase 9; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma; D012503:Saponins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012503:Saponins; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053453:Caspase 9