Potato disc tumor induction assay: A multiple mode of drug action assay

• Published in: Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 133 - 138
• Main Authors: Coker, P.S., Radecke, J., Guy, C., Camper, N.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.03.2003; Urban & Fischer Verlag; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Agrobacterium tumefaciens - drug effects; Agrobacterium tumefaciens - growth & development; Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Biological Assay - methods; Camptothecin - pharmacology; Health aspects; Medicinal plants; Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; Physiological aspects; Plant Tumors - microbiology; Podophyllin - pharmacology; Screening for antineoplastic activity; Solanum tuberosum - drug effects; Solanum tuberosum - microbiology; tumor indiction assay; Vinblastine; Vinblastine - pharmacology; Vincristine; Vincristine - pharmacology; United States; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Screening for antineoplastic activity; tumor indiction assay
• ISSN: 0944-7113; 1618-095X
• DOI: 10.1078/094471103321659834

The study reported herein utilized the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced potato disc tumor assay. The objective was to verify the detection of antineoplastic activity in the potato disc tumor induction assay, regardless of the mode of antineoplastic drug action. Camptothecin, paclitaxel, podophyllin, vinblastine and vincristine were tested, each with a different mode of action. All drugs tested inhibited tumor induction. The order of activity was: camptothecin = paclitaxel = vinblastine < podophyllin = vincristine. No effect on the viability of the bacterium was detected. The A. tumefaciens-induced potato disc tumor assay was an effective indicator of antitumor activity regardless of the mechanism of drug action. Thus, this assay would be acceptable as a primary general screen for antineoplastic activity of various crude extracts, as well as for purified fractions, regardless of mode of inhibitory action on tumor formation.