Extraction of ursolic acid from Ocimum sanctum and synthesis of its novel derivatives: effects on extracellular homocysteine, dihydrofolate reductase activity and proliferation of HepG2 human hepatoma cells

The objective of the present study was to extract ursolic acid (UA) from , to synthesize its bioactive derivatives, evaluate the anti-cancer effect of its derivatives and to establish the possible mechanism of action. In the present report, we extracted UA from whole plant of , synthesized its novel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPteridines Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 191 - 199
Main Authors Batra, Apsara, Sastry, V. Girija
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Innsbruck De Gruyter 01.12.2013
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Subjects
Anticancer properties
Biosynthesis
Cancer
Carbon
Cell division
Derivatives
Dihydrofolate reductase
HepG2
Homocysteine
Metabolism
Perturbation
Reductases
synthesis
ursolic acid
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Summary:The objective of the present study was to extract ursolic acid (UA) from , to synthesize its bioactive derivatives, evaluate the anti-cancer effect of its derivatives and to establish the possible mechanism of action. In the present report, we extracted UA from whole plant of , synthesized its novel derivatives and investigated their effect on homocysteine metabolism and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity of HepG2 cells. UA and its derivatives UA-1, UA-2 and UA-3 down-regulated DHFR activity and increased extracellular homocysteine. UA-2 showed significant anti-proliferation activity in cancer cells. Cancer cells have increased the requirement of pyrimidine base thymidylate due to rapid cell division. Thymidylate biosynthesis depends on sufficient pools of folate dependent enzymes like DHFR. In the present study, we examined the UA and its derivatives mediated perturbation of DHFR activity and extracellular homocysteine in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. After incubation with UA-2, a potent inhibition of DHFR activity was observed. Our results showed that derivatization of UA might adversely affect DHFR activity. Measurement of extracellular homocysteine indicated impaired one-carbon metabolism in cells treated with UA derivatives. In conclusion, our data suggest an anti-cancer role of UA and its derivatives via inhibition of one-carbon metabolism.
ISSN:0933-4807
2195-4720
DOI:10.1515/pterid-2013-0023