IMMUNOASSAY OF PODOPHYLLOTOXIN

The purpose of our research was to design and develop a sensitive immu noassay for the natural Podophyllum lignan, podophyllotoxin [1], which is the precursor of the anti-cancer drugs etoposide [2] and teniposid e [3]. In order to obtain a specific antiserum, bovine serum albumin a nd keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates of succinyl-podophyllotoxin [5 ] were prepared as antigenic hapten carrier proteins. These antigens w ere used to develop polyclonal antibodies to 1 in rabbits. The antiser a were used for the development of an immunoassay for the detection of 1 and its 4'-demethyl derivative 4. As little as 0. 16 nmol of 1 is d etectable with this ELISA. The assay was applied to the direct analysi s of 1 in plants for the screening of potential drug plants which allo wed quantitation in less than 0. 2 mg of plant tissue.