Kalopanaxsaponin A is a basic saponin structure for the anti-tumor activity of hederagenin monodesmosides.

Abstract

Hederagenin, delta-hederin [hederagenin alpha-L-arabinoside], kalopanax-saponin A [hederagenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L- arabinoside], kalopanaxsaponin I [hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-xylosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L- rhamnosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinoside], and sapindoside C [hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-xylsyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinoside] were isolated from stem bark of Kalopanax pictus Nakai (Araliaceae). Among glycosides of hederagenin, disaccharide (kalopanaxsaponin A, commonly also called alpha-hederin), trisaccharide (kalopanaxsaponin I), and tetrasaccharide (sapindoside C) showed significant cytotoxicity on several types of tumor cells, while hederagenin itself exhibited only weak cytotoxicity and its monosaccharide (delta-hederin) was non-cytotoxic. From these results, it suggests that the arabinosyl moiety at C-3 blocks the activity of hederagenin and the position of the second sugar for glycoside linkage is also important for cytotoxicity. In the in vivo experiments, kalopanaxsaponin A (15 mg/kg, i.p.) apparently increased the life span of mice bearing Colon 26 and 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma, as well as cisplatin (3 mg/kg, i.p.). These results indicated that kalopanaxsaponin A has potential anti-tumor applications.

• Authors: H J Park, S H Kwon, J H Lee, K H Lee, K Miyamoto, K T Lee
• Journal: Planta medica (Planta Med) Vol. 67 Issue 2 Pg. 118-21 (Mar 2001) ISSN: 0032-0943 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 11301855 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Glycosides
• Saponins
• beta-hederin
• Oleanolic Acid
• hederagenin

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Carcinoma, Lewis Lung
• Glycosides (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred Strains
• Molecular Structure
• Oleanolic Acid (analogs & derivatives, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Plant Stems (chemistry)
• Plants, Medicinal (chemistry)
• Saponins (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects)