Cytotoxicity of gypsogenic acid isolated from Gypsophila trichotoma

Background: Gypsophila trichotoma Wend. (Caryophyllaceae) is a medicinal plant which is protected in Bulgaria by the Biodiversity Law. Previous studies have showed the presence of triterpene saponins, sterols, flavonoids, triterpens, etc. Objective: Gypsogenic acid, isolated from Gypsophila trichotoma roots, was evaluated for cytotoxic activity. Materials and Methods: The structure of the compound was elucidated by spectral methods. The cell survival fraction was determined by the MTT dye reduction assay, performed with some modifications. Results: Gypsogenic acid was tested in a panel of human tumor cell lines and was found to inhibit the proliferation of malignant cells. It was active against leukemic cells with lymphoid (SKW‑3 and BV‑173) or myeloid phenotype (HL‑60, K‑562, and LAMA‑84), as well as against the EJ bladder carcinoma cell line. Bcr‑Abl expressing myeloid cells (LAMA‑84 and especially K‑562) displayed lower sensitivity. HL‑60/Dox cells were less sensitive to gypsogenic acid than the parent cell line, which shows that gypsogenic acid is probably a substrate of MRP‑1.