Icogenin, a new cytotoxic steroidal saponin isolated from Dracaena draco

This paper reports on the cytotoxic effect induced by a new natural steroidal saponin, icogenin, on the myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60. Icogenin was found to be a cytotoxic compound IC50 2.6 +/- 0.9 muM at 72 h, with growth inhibition caused by the induction of apoptosis, as deter-mined by microscopy of nuclear changes and the fragmentation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.