Production of aralin, a selective cytotoxic lectin against human transformed cells, in callus culture of Aralia elata.

Abstract

Recently we found that aralin, a novel lectin, from Aralia elata selectively induces apoptosis in human virus-transformed and cancer cells compared with normal cells. To overcome the reduction of aralin biosynthesis according to the development of leaves, we established callus tissues from the young shoots. The N-terminal amino acid sequence and immunochemical analyses revealed that ca-aralin, an aralin synthesized in the callus, was structurally identical with aralin except for the glycosylation of the B chain. The selective cytotoxic index (ratio of IC50 value against human lung normal cells versus virus-transformed cells) of ca-aralin was 2-fold higher than that of aralin. Thus, these results suggest that ca-aralin is more useful than aralin as an anticancer agent.

• Authors: Makoto Tomatsu, Toshiyuki Mujin, Norio Shibamoto, Fumio Tashiro, Akira Ikuta
• Journal: Planta medica (Planta Med) Vol. 70 Issue 5 Pg. 469-71 (May 2004) ISSN: 0032-0943 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 15124096 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Lectins
• Plant Extracts
• Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2
• aralin

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Aralia
• Cell Transformation, Viral (drug effects)
• Culture Techniques
• Humans
• Inhibitory Concentration 50
• Lectins (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lung (cytology, drug effects)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Shoots
• Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects)