Cytotoxicity of bacteriohopane-32-ol against mouse leukemia L1210 and P388 cells in vitro.

To investigate the biological activities of the hopane group of pentacyclic triterpenoids, we isolated one hopanoid, bacteriohopane-32-ol from Rhodopseudomonas palustris and tested its cytotoxicity against mouse leukemia cells in vitro. The IC50 of the hopanoid for L1210 and P388 was 22 and 19 microM respectively. This activity was slightly reduced by co-incubation with cholesterol. As the mechanism of cytotoxic action, disturbances of membrane function and metabolism are discussed.