INHIBITORY EFFECT OF URSOLIC ACID ON B16 PROLIFERATION THROUGH CELL-CYCLE ARREST

The effects of ursolic acid on the proliferation of B16, a mouse melan oma cell line, were studied. During investigations of the anti-prolife rative effects of this triterpene, we observed that MTT colorimetric a nd colony forming assays show that ursolic acid is a potent inhibitor of B16 cell growth. Cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iod ide-staining and flow cytometry technique. This triterpene exerts an e arly effect on cell cycle at G1, which explains its anti-proliferative activity. These results suggest that alterations in cell cycle phase redistribution of B16, by ursolic acid, may significantly influence th e proliferation of B16, melanoma cells.