In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza

Abstract

The cytotoxicity-guided fractionation of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza B. (Labiatae) extracts led to the isolation of eighteen active principles 1 ∼ 18, responsible for the cytotoxicity against five cultured human tumor cell lines, i.e., A549 (non-small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15 (colon), using the SRB (sulfrhodamine-B) method in vitro. All active compounds 1 ∼ 18 including two novel components 5 and 11 were comprised of tanshinone pigments, unusual diterpenes exclusively found in this species. The proliferation of each examined tumor cell line was significantly inhibited (IC₅₀ values ranged from 0.2 to 8.1 µg/ml) during the continuous exposure of tumor cells to 1 ∼ 18 for 48 hours, respectively.

Key words

Salvia miltiorrhiza - Labiatae - diterpenes - antitumor - cytotoxicity