Antimitotic Effects of Holothurin

Abstract

Antimitotic effect of holothurin, a water soluble saponin isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria vagabunda, was assessed by Allium test supplemented by autoradiography. Endoreduplication, chromosome clumping, positive and/or negative pycnosis of nuclei, nuclear polymorphism and chromatin extrusion through cytoplasmic buds were the common cytological abnormalities induced by holothurin. Inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis was observed and this may be the molecular mechanism behind the above abnormalities. In all these features holothurin appears to be similar to Adriamycin, currently used in Cancer Chemotherapy.