IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF ECHITAMINE CHLORIDE ON FIBROSARCOMA CELLS

Echitamine chloride was tested for its anti-cancer effect on fibrosarc oma cells and for toxicity toward vero cells, a representative ''norma l'' cell. In vitro incubation of these cells with different concentrat ions of echitamine chloride demonstrated the non-toxic nature of this drug on vero cells and its anti-cancer effect on sarcoma cells. The la tter included reductions in cell viability, glulathione content, and [ H-3]-thymidine incorporation and increased lipid peroxidation. Interes tingly, echitamine chloride caused 55% cell death at a concentration o f 200 mu M in the case of sarcoma cells whereas vero cells were not af fected even at the maximum concentration tested, i.e., 200 mu M.