Cancer preventive agents. Part 8: Chemopreventive effects of stevioside and related compounds

Bioorg Med Chem. 2009 Jan 15;17(2):600-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.11.077. Epub 2008 Dec 6.

Abstract

In a search for potential cancer chemopreventive agents from natural resources, stevioside (1), a sweetener, and six related compounds, including two aglycones steviol (6) and isosteviol (7), were screened in an in vitro assay for inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation. Compounds 1, 6 and 7 showed significant activity in this assay and also exhibited strong inhibitory effects in a two-stage carcinogenesis test using mouse skin induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The inhibitory effects of these three compounds were greater than that of glycyrrhizin. Furthermore, these three compounds significantly inhibited mouse skin carcinogenesis initiated by peroxynitrite and promoted by TPA. Their activities were comparable to that of curcumin. These results suggested that 1, as well as 6 and 7, could be valuable as chemopreventive agents for chemical carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carcinogenicity Tests
  • Chemoprevention / methods
  • Curcumin
  • Diterpenes, Kaurane / chemistry*
  • Diterpenes, Kaurane / pharmacology*
  • Glucosides / chemistry*
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Glycyrrhizic Acid
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Diterpenes, Kaurane
  • Glucosides
  • isosteviol
  • stevioside
  • steviol
  • Glycyrrhizic Acid
  • Curcumin