Gracillin is a steroidal saponin that has been found in C. speciosus and has diverse biological activities. It reduces cell growth in a panel of 58 leukemia, non-small cell lung, colon, CNS, prostate, melanoma, ovarian, renal, and breast cancer cell lines (GI50s = 0.58-2.44 μM). Gracillin reduces growth of fish Ich parasite (I. multifiliis) theronts (EC50 = 0.53 mg/L) and induces 100 and 92.5% mortality of I. multifiliis protomonts and encysted tomonts, respectively, when used at a concentration of 0.8 mg/L. It decreases the number of I. multifiliis-infected goldfish by approximately 75% when used at a concentration of 1 mg/L in tank water. Gracillin (100 mg/kg) reduces ear edema induced by arachidonic acid in mice.
