Planta Med 2001; 67(2): 118-121
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-11516
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Kalopanaxsaponin A is a Basic Saponin Structure for the Anti-Tumor Activity of Hederagenin Monodesmosides

Hee-Juhn Park1 , Sang-Hyuk Kwon1 , Joo-Han Lee2 , Kyou-Heung Lee2 , Ken-ichi Miyamoto3 , Kyung-Tae Lee4,*
  • 1 Division of Applied Plant Science, Sangji University, Wonju, Korea
  • 2 Boryung Central Research Institute, Kyungki-Do, Korea
  • 3 Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
  • 4 College of Pharmacy, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

March 23, 2000

July 30, 2000

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

Abstract

Hederagenin, δ-hederin {hederagenin α-L-arabinoside}, kalopanax-saponin A {hederagenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinoside}, kalopanaxsaponin I {hederagenin 3-O-β-D-xylosyl(1→3)-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinoside}, and sapindoside C {hederagenin 3-O-β-D-glucosyl(1→4)-β-D-xylosyl (1→3)-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinoside} were isolated from stem bark of Kalopanax pictus Nakai (Araliaceae). Among glycosides of hederagenin, disaccharide (kalopanaxsaponin A, commonly also called α-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 (δ-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.

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Dr. Kyung-Tae Lee

Department of Biochemistry

College of PharmacyKyung-Hee University

Dongdaemun-Ku

Hoegi-Dong 130-701

Seoul

Korea

Email: ktlee@nms.kyunghee.ac.kr

Fax: +82-2-9663885