Planta Med 2004; 70(6): 585-588
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815447
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Rotenoids from Derris trifoliata

Chihiro Ito1 , Masataka Itoigawa2 , Naoki Kojima1 , Hugh T.-W. Tan3 , Junko Takayasu4 , Harukuni Tokuda4 , Hoyoku Nishino4 , Hiroshi Furukawa1
  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
  • 2Tokai Gakuen University, Aichi, Japan
  • 3Department of Botany, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • 4Department of Biochemistry, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the High-Tech Research Center Project from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan. This study was also supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (CA17625).
Further Information

Publication History

Received: June 16, 2003

Accepted: November 8, 2003

Publication Date:
01 July 2004 (online)

Abstract

A study of the chemical constituents of the stems of Derris trifoliata Lour. (Leguminosae) led to the isolation and identification of one new rotenoid, 6aα,12aα-12a-hydroxyelliptone (3), together with five other known rotenoids. In a search for novel cancer chemopreventive agents (anti-tumor promoters), we carried out a primary screening of five of the rotenoids isolated from the plant for their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells. The inhibitory activity of 3 was found to be equivalent to that of β-carotene without any cytotoxicity. Deguelin (4) and α-toxicarol (5) exhibited a marked inhibitory effect on mouse skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test. This investigation indicated that rotenoids might be valuable anti-tumor promoters.

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Prof. Masataka Itoigawa

Tokai Gakuen University

Ukigai

Miyoshi-cho

Nishikamo-gun

Aichi 470-0207

Japan

Phone: +81-5613-6-5555

Fax: +81-5613-6-6757

Email: itoigawa@tokaigakuen-u.ac.jp