Effects of strychnopentamine on cells cultured in vitro.

Abstract

This paper describes the powerful cytotoxic action exerted by strychnopentamine (SP), a dimeric indole alkaloid extracted from Strychnos usambarensis Gilg, on B16 melanoma cells and on non-cancer human fibroblasts cultured in vitro. SP strongly inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell death at a relatively low concentration (less than 1 microgram/ml) after 72 h of treatment in the two lines. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]leucine by B16 cells significantly decreases after only 1 h of treatment at 0.5 microgram/ml. SP induces the formation of dense lamellar bodies and vacuolization in the cytoplasm, intense blebbing at the cell surface and various cytological alterations leading to cell death.

• Authors: J Quetin-Leclercq, M C De Pauw-Gillet, L Angenot, R Bassleer
• Journal: Chemico-biological interactions (Chem Biol Interact) Vol. 80 Issue 2 Pg. 203-16 ( 1991) ISSN: 0009-2797 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 1934150 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Alkaloids
• Antineoplastic Agents
• strychnopentamine

Topics

• Alkaloids (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Line
• Fibroblasts (drug effects)
• Humans
• Melanoma, Experimental (genetics, pathology, ultrastructure)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mitotic Index (drug effects)