Antitumor Activity of 23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin D Isolated from Bryonia alba L.

The cytotoxic and antitumor activity of 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D (dhc D) isolated from Bryonia alba L. was examined. Our results showed that dhc D strongly inhibited the viability of the cultured cancer cells, A-549, COLO 205, SK-MEL-2, and L121O. It also exhibited effective antitumor activity in ICR mice, which had been intra peritoneally implanted with sarcoma 180 ascites tumor cells. The dhc D also strongly inhibited the viability of immortalized macrophages RAW 264.7, but not normal peritoneal macrophages. These results indicate that dhc D has antiproliferative effect on cancer cells and it may more sensitive on immortalized cells than normal cells.