[The antitumor activities of gnidimacrin isolated from Stellera chamaejasme L].

Gnidimacrin, a diterpene compound, isolated from the methanol extract of Stellera chamaejasme L, showed significant antitumor activities against mouse leukemia P-388 and L-1210 in vivo. At the dosages of 0.02-0.03mg/kg ip, the in increase in life span (ILS) was 70% and 80%, respectively. Gnidimacrin was also active against murine solid tumors in vivo, such as Lewis lung carcinoma, B-16 melanoma and colon cancer 26. It showed ILSs of 40%, 49% and 41% at the dosages of 0.01-0.02mg/kg ip, respectively. Gnidimacrin strongly inhibited cell proliferation of human cancer cell lines such as leukemia K562, stomach cancers Kato-III, MKN-28, MKN-45, and mouse L-1210 by the MTT assay and colony forming assay in vitro. The IC50 of gnidimacrin was 0.007-0.00012microgram/ml. It is concluded that gnidimacrin is the principal antitumor element in Stellera chamaejasme L. with strong antitumor activities.