Abstract
The development of strategies intended to inhibit human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early (IE) antigen expression is an important goal in research designed to prevent and treat certain forms of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify potent IE antigen-targeting natural compounds as antitumor promoters in an in vitro model of tumor promotion. Nineteen dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HCMV IE antigen expression in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Five esters of penta- and hexahydroxydihydro-β-agarofuran proved to be active components in these Euonymus species, inhibiting the IE antigen expression of HCMV. The highest activity was displayed by 2β,6α,15-triacetoxy-1β-benzoyloxy-9α-nicotinoyloxydihydro-β-agarofuran. These effective compounds may be regarded as prototypes of antitumor promoters, as secondary chemopreventive agents which can modify or halt tumor promotion in general.
- Antitumor promotion
- Euonymus species
- dihydro-β-agarofuran
- sesquiterpene
- cytomegalovirus
- IE antigen expression
- Received June 10, 2008.
- Revision received July 28, 2008.
- Accepted August 26, 2008.
- Copyright © 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved