Cytotoxic properties of root extract and fruit juice of Trichosanthes cucumerina.

Abstract

The root extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. and bryonolic acid (1), its main constituent, as well as the fruit juice and cucurbitacin B (3), its main constituent, were tested for cytotoxicity against four human breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3, MCF7, T47D, and MDA-MB435), two lung cancer cell lines (A549 and SK-LU1), and one colon cancer cell line (Caco-2). The root extract had higher IC (50) values than bryonolic acid (1) against three breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 = 267/121, T47D = 316/124, MDA-MB435 = 140/90 microL/mL) and one lung cancer cell line (A549 = 106/100 microL/mL). The fruit juice also had higher IC (50) values than cucurbitacin B (3) against the four breast cancer cell lines (131/73, 375/35, 249/60, and 156/26 microL/mL, respectively) and one lung cancer cell line (141/41 microL/mL) as shown above, as well as against the colon cancer cell line (101/1.5 microL/mL). However, the root extract inhibited SK-LU1 more strongly than did the fruit juice, cucurbitacin B (3), and bryonolic acid (1) (149/169/180/>500 microL/mL, respectively). The root extract inhibited the two lung and three breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3, MDA-MB435, and MCF7) more strongly than the fruit juice. Bryonolic acid (1) inhibited MDA-MB435 somewhat better than the other tested human cancer cell lines. The fruit juice inhibited the colon cancer cell line (Caco-2) more strongly than the root extract. Cucurbitacin (3) inhibited human cancer cell lines, especially Caco-2, much more strongly than bryonolic acid (1). In addition to bryonolic acid (1), bryononic acid (2), cucurbitacin B (3), and dihydrocucurbitacin B (4) also were isolated from the root extract.

• Authors: Sumonthip Kongtun, Weena Jiratchariyakul, Tanawan Kummalue, Peerapan Tan-ariya, Somyos Kunnachak, August Wilhelm Frahm
• Journal: Planta medica (Planta Med) Vol. 75 Issue 8 Pg. 839-42 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1439-0221 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 19288406 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Plant Preparations
• Triterpenes
• cucurbitacin B
• bryonolic acid

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (isolation & purification, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Caco-2 Cells (drug effects)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Fruit
• Humans
• Inhibitory Concentration 50
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Preparations (isolation & purification, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Roots
• Trichosanthes (chemistry)
• Triterpenes (isolation & purification, pharmacology, therapeutic use)