Antimitotic Effects of Hexane Extracts fromViscum cruciatum Sieber Parasitic onCrataegus monogyna Jacq. andCrataegus monogyna Jacq. Parasitized and Non-parasitized and of Triterpenic Fractions Isolated from them, by the Allium test

Abstract

The hexane extracts of Viscum cruciatum Sieber (Viscaceae) parasitic on Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (I), Crataegus monogyna Jacq. parasitized with Viscum cruciatum Sieber (II), and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (Rosaceae) non-parasitized (III), and a triterpenic fraction isolated from II and III were screened for their effects on mitotic division in Allium cepaL. (Liliaceae). The chromatographic fractionation of the hexane extracts II and III provided triterpenic fractions (CFII and CFIII) in which cycloartenol was identified as the main component. A mitodepressive effect of the hexane extracts (I, II, III) was observed. The results obtained with the triterpenic fractions showed higher activity than the hexane extracts II and III. Triterpenic fractions isolated from the hexane extract of Crataegus monogyna non-parasitized showed complete inhibition of cell division at 48 h of treatment. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.