Toxicity to sea urchin egg development of the quinone fraction obtained from Auxemma oncocalyx

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research 2002-08, Vol.35 (8), p.927-930
• Main Authors: Costa-Lotufo, L V, Ferreira, M A D, Lemos, T L G, Pessoa, O D L, Viana, G S B, Cunha, G M A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anthraquinones - isolation & purification; Anthraquinones - toxicity; Antineoplastic Agents - toxicity; Auxemma oncocalyx; BIOLOGY; Boraginaceae - chemistry; DNA Damage; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Oncocalyxone A; Ovum - drug effects; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Quinones; Quinones - isolation & purification; Quinones - toxicity; Sea urchin eggs; Sea Urchins
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 0100-879X; 0034-7310
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2002000800010

Auxemma oncocalyx Taub. belongs to the Boraginaceae family and is native to the Brazilian northeast where it is known as "pau-branco". We investigated the ability of the water soluble fraction isolated from the heartwood of A. oncocalyx to inhibit sea urchin egg development. This fraction contains about 80% oncocalyxone A (quinone fraction), a compound known to possess strong cytotoxic and antitumor activities. In fact, the quinone fraction inhibited cleavage in a dose-dependent manner [IC50 of 18.4 (12.4-27.2) microg/ml, N = 6], and destroyed the embryos in the blastula stage [IC50 of 16.2 (13.7-19.2) microg/ml, N = 6]. We suggest that this activity is due to the presence of oncocalyxone A. In fact, these quinones present in A. oncocalyx extract have strong toxicity related to their antimitotic activity.