Microsomal activation, and SH-SY5Y cell toxicity studies of tremetone and 6-hydroxytremetone isolated from rayless goldenrod ( Isocoma pluriflora) and white snakeroot ( Agertina altissima), respectively

This research compared the cytotoxic actions of the benzofuran ketone, tremetone in B16 murine melanoma cells to SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells with an MTT assay. Tremetone was not cytotoxic in B16 cells. In SH-SY5Y cells, concentration-dependent tremetone cytotoxicity occurred without microsomal activation. No cytotoxicity was observed with 6-hydroxytremetone. This suggests that SH-SY5Y cells are a better model for the cytotoxic actions of tremetone and that tremetone is toxic without microsomal activation.

Keywords: Ageratina altissima; Eupatorium rugosum; Rayless goldenrod; Tremetone; White snakeroot.