Oleanolic acid rich solubilized triterpene extracts from mistletoe induce apoptotic and necrotic cell death of murine B16.F10 melanoma cells

Abstract

Oleanolic acid (OA) is an almost water insoluble (<0.02µg/ml), naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, which has a variety of biological effects (e.g. anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory). OA is the main component (˜80%) of triterpene extracts from European mistletoe, which does not contain mistletoe lectins and viscotoxins. The toxic solvent DMSO is normally used for in vitro administration of OA. This restricts the use of OA due to limited solubility of OA in DMSO and toxicity of DMSO itself.