gracillin

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.

White powder, soluble in organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, DMSO, etc., derived from the rhizomes of Dioscorea zingiberensis and Dioscorea parviflora.

Gracillin is a steroidal glycoside from the rhizomes of the family Dioscoreaceae with potential anti-proliferative effects.

ChEBI: Gracillin is a triterpenoid.

[1] KE HU  Xinsheng Y. The cytotoxicity of methyl protoneogracillin (NSC-698793) and gracillin (NSC-698787), two steroidal saponins from the rhizomes of Dioscorea collettii var. hypoglauca, against human cancer cells in vitro.[J]. Phytotherapy Research, 2003, 17 6: 620-626. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1211
[2] WEI ZHENG. Antiparasitic efficacy of Gracillin and Zingibernsis newsaponin from Costus speciosus (Koen ex. Retz) Sm. against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.[J]. Parasitology, 2015, 142 3: 473-479. DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014001358
[3] SUNG YONG KIM. Inhibition of mouse ear edema by steroidal and triterpenoid saponins[J]. Archives of Pharmacal Research, 1999, 22 3: 313-316. DOI: 10.1007/bf02976370