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.

A Root Extract and Fractions Exhibit Antigiardial Activity without Affecting Cell Viability.

Background: The gastrointestinal parasite causes giardiasis. Its treatment with standard drugs produces side effects and improper treatment can generate resistant strains. New antigiardial compounds are needed.

Season affects active metabolite composition and cytotoxic effect in methanol extracts.

Plant-derived secondary metabolites are a source of promising bioactive molecules in the search for safer more selective cancer drugs. Mexico's flora is extremely diverse and many species, such as , form part of traditional medicine. Compounds with notable cytotoxic activity have been isolated from , but their concentrations may vary seasonally.

Lupane-Type Triterpenes of Phoradendron vernicosum.

Three new lupane-type triterpenes, 3α,24-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (1), 3α,23-dihydroxy-30-oxolup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (2), and 3α,23-O-isopropylidenyl-3α,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), together with eight known compounds (4-11) were isolated from a methanol extract of Phoradendron vernicosum aerial parts. The chemical structures of 1-3 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. The isolated compounds were tested against seven human cancer cell lines and two normal cell lines.