Cytotoxicity studies of triterpenoids from Akebia trifoliata and Clematis ligusticifolia.

摘要

The extracts of two Chinese herbs, namely Clematis ligustifolia and Akebia trifoliata, were tested for their cytotoxic effects on the porcine renal cell line LLC-PK1. Using bioactivity-directed fractionation, the cytotoxic constituents, quinatic acid, arjunolic acid, and 30-nor arjunolic acid along with six glycosides of hederagenin and one glycoside of oleanolic acid were isolated. Out of all the cytotoxic constituents tested only collinsonidine, quinatic acid and 30-norarjunolic acid induced apoptosis as determined in the caspase 3/7 assay. The apoptotic activity of these three compounds was further confirmed by microscopical observation of the nuclear fragmentation pattern by staining with DAPI. Our findings suggest that structural features of the oleanane skeleton and the nature and type of saccharide linkages play an important role in the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing properties of these compounds..