beta-carotene and deguelin

A study of the chemical constituents of the stems of Derris trifoliata Lour. (Leguminosae) led to the isolation and identification of one new rotenoid, 6aalpha,12aalpha-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 beta-carotene without any cytotoxicity. Deguelin ( 4) and alpha-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.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Viral; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Benzopyrans; beta Carotene; Cell Line; Fabaceae; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Papilloma; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Stems; Rotenone; Skin Neoplasms; Virus Activation