RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIM: The use of cardenolides in the treatment of cardiac insufficiency is well-established. However, the potential of cardenolides in tumor therapy has not been comprehensively studied. The aim of the present study was to characterize the cytotoxic effects of the new semisynthetic cardenolide analog AMANTADIG (3ß-[2-(1-amantadine)-1-on-ethylamine]-digitoxigenin), and the cardenolide digitoxin on leukemia and urological tumor cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-proliferative effects of AMANTADIG and digitoxin on leukemia and urological cancer cell lines were analyzed using (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction viability assay. RESULTS: AMANTADIG and digitoxin exhibited anti-proliferative activities against the leukemia cell lines in the low nanomolar range. The prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma cell lines were equally sensitive to AMANTADIG and digitoxin, however, the leukemia cell lines were more sensitive to both cardenolides. CONCLUSION: The new cardenolide analog AMANTADIG appears effective in cell growth inhibition of leukemia and urological tumor cell lines.
