Sesquiterpenes cytotoxic activity

The sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids have antifeedant and insecticidal activ-ihes. Some alkaloids, such as triptonine B, hypoglaunine B, hyponine B and wilfortrine, have antivirus activity potential. Others, such as emarginatines A-B, E-G and emarginatine, have cytotoxic activity. Ebenifoline and cangorinine have immunosuppressive activity. 

Examination of the Montenegro Achillea clavennae reveals the presence of three new chlorine-containing guaianolides 277-279 in addition to several known analogues (524). The first investigation of the Chinese medicinal plant Vernonia chinensis has uncovered the new chlorinated sesquiterpene lactones vemchinilides A (280), B (281), C (282) and E (283) (525). Vemchinilides B and E exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against the P-388 and A-549 cell lines. The structurally similar vemolide C (284) was found in the Cambodian traditional medicinal plant Vernonia cinera (fever, colic, malaria) (526). Indeed, vemolide C could be identical with vemchinilide A. 

Chen X, Zhan Z-J, Zhang X-W, Ding J, Yu J-M (2005) Sesquiterpene Lactones with Potent Cytotoxic Activities from Vernonia chinensis. Planta Med 71 949... 

Sesquiterpene lactones isolated from T. densum ssp. sivasicum were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against human epidermoid (KB) cells. Tavulin, spiciformin and dentatin A were found to be active with the IC50 values of 3.2, 2.9 and 2.4 pgml, respectively, whereas tanachin was inactive [36]. 

Tables. Cytotoxic Activity (in IC50 values d n=3) of the Sesquiterpene...

He and his associates have Isolated several chromenes, prenylated qulnones, and sesquiterpenes esterlfled with phenolic acids which have repellent and/or cytotoxic activity. 

Table 8. Cytotoxic Activity (in ICgo values pM + sd n=3) of the Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from T. praeteritum ssp. praeteritum Against the Human Cell Lung Carcinoma Cell Line (GLC4) and the Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Line (COLO 320)...

Anke, H., and O. Sterner Comparison of the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Twenty Unsaturated Sesquiterpene Dialdehydes from Plants and Mushrooms. Planta Medica, 57, 344 (1991). 

Tumorigenesis is a complex multistep process influenced by many factors. There are some population-based studies indicating that a diet rich in isoprenoids play a role in the ability to avoid cancers [61]. In various experiments and test systems, some mono- and sesquiterpenes showed activity, where peril alcohol and D-limonene were of greatest interest. a-Bisabolol, the anti-inflammatory compound of chamomile oil, showed a strong time- and dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on glial cells [61]. p-Caryophyllene showed some potentiating effect on the anticancer activity of ot-humulene, isocaryophyUene, and paclitaxel on various cell lines [53]. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the anticancer potential of thymoquinone [53]. 

Initially, this reaction was studied by Kupchan et al. to explain the cytotoxic activities of a-methylene sesquiterpene lactones [13]. By reaction of the guaianolide with an essential enzyme or receptor containing cysteine, a malfunctioning product might be formed that could kill the cell. In spite of several later studies, no drug based on this reaction has been registered until now,... 

Centaurea deflexa is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. In vitro cytotoxic activity against different pancreatic and colon cancer cell lines has been also reported for several Centaurea species [108]. The major constituents identified in Centaurea L. species, responsible for most of their pharmacological properties, are sesquiterpene lactones which induce apoptosis in cancer cells [109]. 

The cytotoxic activity of sesquiterpene lactones in species Ajania przewalskii Poljakov and Ligularia platyglossa was also reported [143, 144]. The volatile principles of Citrus aurantifolia inhibit proliferation inhibition of human colon cancer cells by apoptosis. The volatile sesquiterpenes showed DNA fragmentatiOTi and induction of caspase-3 [145]. The antiproUferative and anticancer activity of Nigella sativa was established [146]. Sesquiterpene lactmie from Schistochila glaucescens, Laurencia majuscula, Curcuma parviflora, and Liverwort shows... 

Systematic fractionation of cytotoxic extracts of several species in the plant family Compositae has afforded a number of new sesquiterpene lactones with cytotoxic activity, some of which possess antineoplastic activity [181-188]. Elephantopin (XLllla) and elephantin (XLIIIb), which have been isolated from Elephantopus elatus, have been found to inhibit significantly W 256 at... 

Root extracts and their major sesquiterpene constituents have been shown to possess selective cytotoxic activity against different tumor cell lines, such as HeLa, HepG2, HT-29, MCF-7, and Capan-2. Caspase-dependent apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms involved in the displayed antitumor activity. ... 

---