Abstract
The antitumor activity of several constituents of Sophora subprostrata and related compounds were tested against Sarcoma-180 in mice, and also against Ehrlich ascites tumor of mice as well in vivo as in vitro. Matrine, one of its alkaloids demonstrated antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites tumor of mice, in vitro as well as in vivo. No anti-Ehrlich ascites tumor activity was observed with oxymatrine. Both alkaloids showed remarkable antitumor activity against solid Sarcoma-180 in mice. Anti-Sarcoma-180 activity of one new base was also demonstrated. The chemotherapeutic index of oxymatrine for Sarcoma-180 was about 7.8 times larger than that of Mitomycin C. Pterocarpoids also had definitive antitumor activity. Parent compound, chromanocoumarane, itself showed slight antitumor activity against solid Sarcoma-180 in mice. In general, the glucoside had greater antitumor activity than its aglycone, and the d-isomer showed relative greater antitumor activity than the l-isomer.
