Biological Activity of Alantolactones in Experiments on Cells

The results of in vitro studies demonstrate cytotoxic activity alantolactone and isoalantolactone, presented in the elecampane plant (Inula helenium) of the natural sesquiterpene lactones. These compounds show toxicity against human cancer cell lines: MS, A549, HCT116, MCF7, RD and K562. The involvement of the p53 signaling pathway in the death of tumor cells, as well as the contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation during cell death, was studied.