Cytotoxic activity of a dichloromethane extract and fractions obtained from Eudistoma vannamei (Tunicata: Ascidiacea)

Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2008 Nov;151(3):391-398. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.02.018. Epub 2007 Feb 24.

Abstract

This study consists of the bioassay-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract from Eudistoma vannamei and the pharmacological characterization of the active fractions. The dried hydromethanolic extract dissolved in aqueous methanol was partitioned with dichloromethane and chromatographed on a silica gel flash column. The anti-proliferative effect was monitored by the MTT assay. Four of the latest fractions, numbered 14 to 17, which held many chemical similarities amongst each other, were found to be the most active. The selected fractions were tested for viability, proliferation and death induction on cultures of HL-60 promyeloblastic leukemia cells. The results suggested that the observed cytotoxicity is related to apoptosis induction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Cytostatic Agents / chemistry
  • Cytostatic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Cytostatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cytotoxins / chemistry
  • Cytotoxins / isolation & purification*
  • Cytotoxins / pharmacology*
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / pathology
  • Methylene Chloride
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Urochordata / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cytostatic Agents
  • Cytotoxins
  • Methylene Chloride
  • DNA