Sesquiterpene lactones. Part XIII. Cytotoxic activity of eupatolide and eupatoriopicrin on human and animal malignant cells in tissue culture in vitro.

The activity was determined in tissue culture of KB, HeLa human tumor cells. RK normal animal and EAC-E4 Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Eupatolide (EUP) and eupatoriopicrin (EUPP) show similar cytotoxic activity (ED50 from 0-5 to 1-3 mug/ml), dependent on the cell strain used. In plate test EUP and EUPP give inhibition zones of 18--19 mm. EUPP exerts progressively destructive influence on EAC-E4 cells in the conditions of Miyamura test. The decrease in EUPP activity was noted in aqueous (pH = 9) and acetone solutions.