23-Hydroxybetulinic acid from Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel synergizes the antitumor activities of doxorubicin in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL REVELANCE: Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge)Regel has been used as adjuvant in chemotherapy in traditional Chinese medicine. 23-Hydroxybetulinic acid, an isolated pentacyclic triterpene, is the major active constituent of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel.

AIM OF THIS STUDY:

To evaluate the combinational anticancer effect of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid and doxorubicin in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The effect of combination treatment with 23-hydroxybetulinic acid and doxorubicin was evaluated with a quantitative combination index method based on the median-effect analysis in various cancer cell lines. And in vivo efficacy of combination chemotherapy was also evaluated using ICR mice bearing sarcoma 180 carcinoma tumors.

RESULTS:

23-Hydroxybetulinic acid showed a synergistic cytotoxic effect on multiple cancer cell lines by combined use with doxorubicin. In vivo studies further demonstrated that co-administration of 23-HBA significantly improved the sensitivity of the tumor to doxorubicin through increasing intra-tumor doxorubicin concentration and inhibiting doxorubicin-induced up-regulation of P-gp in tumor.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that the combined therapy with 23-hydroxybetulinic acid and doxorubicin may be a new promising strategy to promote the clinical chemotherapy, which needs further verification.

• Authors: Yuanting Zheng, Fang Zhou, Xiaolan Wu, Xiaozhou Wen, Yannan Li, Bei Yan, Jingwei Zhang, Gang Hao, Wencai Ye, Guangji Wang
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 128 Issue 3 Pg. 615-22 (Apr 21 2010) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 20176097 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• 23-hydroxybetulinic acid
• ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
• Triterpenes
• Doxorubicin

Topics

• ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Pulsatilla (chemistry)
• Triterpenes
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)