Mode of action of torilin in multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines.

The mechanism of action of multidrug-resistance reversing activity of torilin was studied. In vitro experiments for the accumulation and efflux of vinblastine clearly indicated that MDR reversing effects of torilin would directly be associated with the increase of the intracellular accumulation of anticancer drugs by blocking the drug efflux. Furthermore, torilin increased the membrane ATPase activity from KB-V1 cells, suggesting that torilin might function by inhibiting drug transport mediated by P-glycoprotein.