Cardenolides in cancer therapy

Cardenolides and plant cell cultures

Cardiac glycosides are a group of natural products that share a steroid-like structure with an unsaturated lactone ring. They induce cardiontonic effects by inhibiting Na + /K + -ATPase. Cardiac glycosides have been used traditionally in the treatment of congestive heart failure. More recent studies suggested that cardiac glycosides may also be useful in cancer therapy as they inhibit cell proliferation and cancer cell growth at nanomolar concentrations. The underlying molecular mechanisms are still under investigation, but fusogenic liposomes loaded with a glucoevatromomoside derivatives were able to induce an antitumor response.

To obtain these cardenolides, different techniques of micropropagation can be used for the maintenance, propagation, and cloning of medicinal plants. We apply the following methods for in vitro cloning of unique plants by meristem cultures, callus cultivation aiming at organogenesis, and permanent cell and tissue cultures.