Pharmacological effects of elenoside, an arylnaphthalene lignan

Acute toxicity (24 h) and general behavior in mice of a Lignan from Justici a hyssopifolia, a beta -D-glucoside (elenoside), was studied, and the cytot oxic activity was performed. Elenoside (arylnaphthalene lignan) in mice sho wed a moderate toxicity order (305 mg/kg) and central depressive properties at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, It also displayed cytotoxic activity in a range of concentration of 10(-5)-10(-4) M when studied in the human tumo r cell line panel of the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), The results in dicated that elenoside has central depressant effects, and the cytotoxic ac tivity of elenoside suggests that this compound and its genin derivatives m erit further investigation as antitumoral drugs.