Multidrug resistant cancer cells susceptibility to cytotoxic taxane diterpenes from Taxus yunnanensis and Taxus chinensis.
Shinozaki Y, Fukamiya N, Uchiyama C, Okano M, Tagahara K, Bastow KF, Lee KH.
Twelve taxane diterpenes (1-12), which were isolated previously from the EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Taxus yunnanensis or Taxus chinensis, were evaluated for cytotoxicity against the multidrug resistant cancer cells KB-VIN and KB-7d. Compounds and showed significant cytotoxicity in these cell lines. Compounds and also demonstrated significant activity against KB-7d. The biflavonoid isolated from T. yunnanensis was only marginally cytotoxic against the A549 (lung) cell line, but a simple methoxylated analogue (14) was inactive.