Isolation and Characterization of Hederagenin from Hedera helix L. Extract with Antitumor Activity

Rodica Tatia,Oana Craciunescu,Lucia Moldovan,Ioan Calinescu,Isabela Tarcomnicu,Christina Zalaru

doi:10.37358/rc.19.4.7084

Abstract

Hederagenin, a saponin known for its therapeutic effect was isolated from leaves of Hedera helix. Hederagenin was obtained by repeated maceration of ground plant material in 95% (v/v) ethanol. The ethanolic extract was subjected to acid hydrolysis and purification with acetonitrile. Isolated hederagenin (IHe) was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and compared to standard hederagenin. In vitro cytotoxicity of IHe was tested in a culture of fibroblast cells from NCTC clone L929 cell line by MTT assay, using dioscin as positive control. For the determination of IHe antitumor effect, in vitro tests were performed in a culture of human cervix carcinoma Hep-2 cells cultivated in the presence of different concentrations of sample for 48 h. IHe was biocompatible in the range of concentrations 2-200 mg/mL, in NCTC cell culture. The compound showed cell cytotoxicity in the concentration range of 100-400 mg/mL, in Hep-2 cell culture, revealing its antitumor activity. These results demonstrated the possible use of hederagenin isolated from H. helix extract as an antitumor agent.

Highlights

Hederagenin, a saponin known for its therapeutic effect was isolated from leaves of Hedera helix
Liu et al (2014) have isolated hederagenin from ivy leaves using a similar method of extraction in 90% (v/v) ethanol and acid hydrolysis in HCl, at 80oC [19]
The cultures were incubated in ABS 1500 biology security cabinet (Bioquell), hpr,otovidalelodwwcitehll5a%dhCeOs2iohnu.mStiadnadtmardoshpehdeerera, gaetn3i7n,°CIH, efoar n2d4 dioscin were solubilized in a small amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diluted in the culture medium to obtain stock solutions, which were sterile filtered through

Summary

Introduction

Hederagenin, a saponin known for its therapeutic effect was isolated from leaves of Hedera helix. For the determination of IHe antitumor effect, in vitro tests were performed in a culture of human cervix carcinoma Hep-2 cells cultivated in the presence of different concentrations of sample for 48 h. The compound showed cell cytotoxicity in the concentration range of 100-400 μg/mL, in Hep-2 cell culture, revealing its antitumor activity. These results demonstrated the possible use of hederagenin isolated from H. helix extract as an antitumor agent. The external application of ivy leaves decoction showed antifungal, antibacterial and anti-cellulite activities [4]. All these properties required scientific research to justify this plant use for medicinal purposes. The plant was authenticated and a voucher specimen (No 407754) was deposited at the Botanical Garden of Bucharest, Romania

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