Evaluation of the anti-tumour action and acute toxicity of kosins from Hagenia abyssinica.

The kosins are phloroglucinol derivatives isolated from female flowers of Hagenia abyssinica (Rosaceae) and were tested for possible cytotoxic activity in vitro and in vivo against a panel of three transplantable murine adenocarcinomas of the colon of varying growth characteristics and morphology (MAC system). Significant reductions in colony formation were observed in vitro in MAC 15A tumour following 1, 3, 6 and 24 h exposure to all kosins (alpha-kosin, kosotoxin and protokosin). The kosins (kosotoxin and protokosin) were also found to be cytotoxic against MAC tumour cells in vivo in some cases. Kosotoxin was subjected to preliminary toxicity studies in mice. It showed no observable toxicity up to 200 mg kg-1 orally and was found to be toxic at doses in excess of 50 mg kg-1 (i.p.). A single dose of 100 mg kg-1 (i.p.) was lethal for 100% of the animals.