• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.263-267
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• 2000

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.