Lupane Triterpene Derivatives Improve Antiproliferative Effect on Leukemia Cells through Apoptosis Induction.

Leukemia is one of the most frequent types of cancer. No effective treatment currently exists, driving a search for new compounds. Simple structural modifications were made to novel triterpenes isolated from .

Apoptotic and Cell Cycle Effects of Triterpenes Isolated from on Leukemia Cell Lines.

Current antineoplastic agents present multiple disadvantages, driving an ongoing search for new and better compounds. Four lupane-type triterpenes, 3α,24-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (), 3α,23-dihydroxy-30-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (), 3α,23--isopropylidenyl-3α,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (), and 3α,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (), previously isolated from , were evaluated on two cell lines of chronic (K562) and acute (HL60) myeloid leukemia. Compounds , , and decreased cell viability and inhibit proliferation, mainly in K562, and exhibited an apoptotic effect from 24 h of treatment.