Potential antitumor agents: a cytotoxic cardenolide from Coronilla varia L.

An alcoholic extract of the seeds of Coronilla varia L. showed inhibitory activity against KB cells in culture and was fractionated through a series of partitions, column chromatography, and preparative layer chromatography to yield hyrcanoside, daphnoretin, scopoletin, and umbelliferone. Hyrcanoside was also tested in the PS mouse leukemia assay and showed borderline activity.

Cardiotonic steroids: correlation of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphate inhibition and ion transport in vitro with inotropic activity and toxicity in dogs.

1. A new series of cardiotonics based on five steroid nuclei has been evaluated for inhibition of Na-+/K-+-ATPase and Rb uptake by red blood cells, and for inotropic activity and toxicity in dogs. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. 2. The in vitro tests can be used satisfactorily to predict inotropic activity, but not toxicity or therapeutic ratio. 3. Although compounds with greatly improved therapeutic ratios relative to ouabain and tolusin have been obtained, they proved to be strongly emetic in the conscious dog.