Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
10:01
Structure-Guided Design and Development of Novel Cyclophilin A Inhibitors and Ganoderiol-F Derivatives: An In-Silico Approach
Published on: June 23, 2026
Cytotoxic cardenolides from Streptocaulon griffithii.
Xiao-Hui Zhang1, Hui-Lin Zhu, Qiang Yu
1State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
Chemistry & Biodiversity
|May 19, 2007
Summary
A new cardenolide from Streptocaulon griffithii roots, compound 1, significantly inhibited cancer cell proliferation. This compound and others showed potent cytotoxic effects against various human tumor cell lines in vitro.
Area of Science:
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Streptocaulon griffithii is a plant source of bioactive compounds.
- Cardenolides are a class of natural products with diverse pharmacological activities.
- Gastrointestinal cancers and other human tumors represent a significant health burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel and known cardenolides from Streptocaulon griffithii.
- To evaluate the in vitro anticancer activity of isolated cardenolides against human cancer cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Phytochemical investigation of Streptocaulon griffithii roots.
- Isolation and structural elucidation of compounds using spectroscopic methods.
- In vitro cytotoxicity assays against HGC-27, A549, MCF-7, and Hela cells.
Main Results:
- A new cardenolide, 3-O-(beta-glucopyranosyl)acovenosigenin A (compound 1), was identified.
- Eight known cardenolides (compounds 2-9) were also isolated.
- All isolated compounds exhibited significant in vitro inhibition of HGC-27 cell proliferation (IC50: 20-564 nM).
- Compound 1 demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against A549, MCF-7, and Hela cells.
Conclusions:
- Streptocaulon griffithii is a rich source of cytotoxic cardenolides.
- Compound 1 is a promising novel cardenolide with broad-spectrum anticancer potential.
- Further investigation into the mechanism of action and therapeutic application of these compounds is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents
Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
01:12Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers
Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:10Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
01:01Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions
Type II hypersensitivity involves IgG and IgM antibodies targeting cell surface antigens, leading to cell destruction. This can occur through complement activation, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), or acting as opsonins for phagocytosis. When excessive, these reactions cause significant tissue damage.Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is a common example, where drugs like penicillin or cephalosporins bind to red blood cells, forming drug-protein complexes. These complexes...
01:21Cytotoxic Edema: Pathophysiology
Cytotoxic edema is a form of cerebral edema characterized by intracellular swelling of neurons, astrocytes, and other glial cells. It develops when the mechanisms responsible for maintaining ionic gradients across the cell membrane become impaired. Under normal physiological conditions, the sodium–potassium ATPase actively transports sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, preserving osmotic balance and enabling electrical signaling. This pump requires a continuous supply...