Inhibitory effect of liposomal rhinacanthin-N isolated from Rhinacanthus nasutus on pulmonary metastasis in mice.

Abstract

We previously observed that rhinacanthins, which are the main naphthoquinone esters isolated from the roots of a Thai medicinal plant, Rhinacanthus nasutus KURZ. (family Acanthaceae), suppress the growth of Meth-A sarcoma in the tumor-bearing mice and that rhinacanthin-N has the strongest antitumor activity among these naphthoquinone esters tested. In the present study, we investigated the effect of rhinacanthin-N on pulmonary metastasis induced by B16F10 melanoma cells in mice. C57BL/6 male mice were injected intravenously with B16F10 melanoma cells, and liposomal rhinacanthin-N was administered intraperitoneally from day 1 to 7 after tumor implantation. Liposomes were used to formulate an injectable form of the hydrophobic agent. Treatment of the mice with 5 or 10 mg/kg/d of liposomal rhinacanthin-N significantly inhibited the pulmonary metastatic colonization of the melanoma cells. Based on these data, our findings demonstrate that rhinacanthin-N possesses antimetastatic efficacy, which may make it a lead compound for the development of a new anticancer drug for use in cancer chemotherapy.

• Authors: Pongpun Siripong, Jantana Yahuafai, Suratsawadee Piyaviriyakul, Kwanjai Kanokmedhakul, Hiroyuki Koide, Takayuki Ishii, Kosuke Shimizu, Somsak Ruchirawat, Naoto Oku
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 35 Issue 7 Pg. 1197-200 ( 2012) ISSN: 1347-5215 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 22791173 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Liposomes
• Naphthoquinones
• rhinacanthin-N

Topics

• Acanthaceae
• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Liposomes
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)
• Male
• Melanoma, Experimental (drug therapy, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Naphthoquinones (administration & dosage)
• Plant Roots