Inhibitory effects of the extract of Viscum album on the proliferation of human tumor cell lines

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the whole extract of Viscum album (a parasitic plant : Loranthaceae) led to the isolation of two triterpenoidal components, oleanolic acid (1), ${\beta}$-amyrin acetate (2), homoflavoyadorinin B (3) as well as large quantity of free fatty acid mixtures as active ingredients of the extract responsible for the antitumoral property. The EtOAc soluble part and BuOH soluble part of the extract demonstrated a significant inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15 (colon) in vitro, whereas the remaining water soluble part exhibited a poor inhibition. (omitted)