Relationship between cytotoxic activity and radical intensity of isoflavones from Sophora species
Shirataki, Y.; Tani, S.; Sakagami, H.; Satoh, K.; Nakashima, H.; Gotoh, K.; Motohashi, N.
Anticancer Research 21(4a): 2643-2648
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 11724333 Document Number: 529397
Among 11 isoflavones tested, genistein (YS13) produced higher cytotoxic activity against human oral tumour cell lines (HSC-2, HSG) than against normal cells (human gingival fibroblast, HGF), suggesting its tumour-specific action. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy showed that YS13 did not produce radical, nor scavenged O2.-, generated by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction system, suggesting that radical-mediated oxidation mechanism is not be involved in the YS13-induced cytotoxicity. Addition of one prenyl group produced YS18 and YS19 with higher anti-Helicobacter pylori activity. Addition of two prenyl groups produced YS21 with the highest cytotoxic activity but lower tumour-specificity. Since YS21 produced the highest amount of radical and most efficiently scavenged O2.-, this compound may induce cytotoxicity by radical-mediated oxidation mechanism. All isoflavones failed to induce antihuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. These data suggest the medicinal efficacy of isoflavones.