Mechanism of cytotoxic action of some triterpene glycosides

A study was carried out to elucidate the effects of triterpene glycosides of stichoposide A from Stichopus japonicus S., caulosides B and C from Caulophyllum robustum M., aescin from Aesculus hippocastarus L. and theasaponin from Thea sinensis L., upon the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and protein in the embryo culture of the sea urchin and upon selective permeability of cell membranes. The cytotoxic activity, in sea urchin embryos, of the triterpene glycosides and inhibition of macromolecule synthesis appeared to be due to an alteration in the selective permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane. Triterpene glycosides suppress nucleoside and amino acid transport into the cell and stimulate the efflux of u.v.-absorbing substances from the cell.