Rotundifuran, a labdane type diterpene from Vitex rotundifolia, induces apoptosis in human myeloid leukaemia cells

The inhibitory effect of rotundifuran, a labdane type diterpene isolated fr om the fruit of Vitex rotundifolia, on the proliferation of human myeloid l eukaemia HL-60 cells was examined. The concentration required for 50% inhib ition of the growth after 96 h was 22.5 muM. The mode of cell death induced by rotundifuran was found to be apoptosis, which was judged by the morphol ogical alteration of the cells and by the detection of DNA fragmentation us ing agarose gel electrophoresis. The degree of apoptosis was quantified by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay and flowcytometric analysis. These results su ggest that rotundifuran may be used as a potential chemopreventive and chem otherapeutic agent. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.