α-Hederin is a triterpenoid saponin that has been found in K. pictus and has diverse biological activities.It increases spontaneous motoric activity in isolated rat stomach corpus and fundus strips when used at concentrations ranging from 25 to 320 μM.It is cytotoxic to J82 and T24 human bladder carcinoma, Colon26 murine colon adenocarcinoma, and 3LL Lewis murine lung carcinoma cells (EC50s = 15.5, 16.5, 12.5, and 1.1 μM, respectively).α-Hederin (7.5 and 15 mg/kg) increases survival time in a 3LL Lewis mouse lung carcinoma model. It reduces acetic acid-induced writhing in mice when administered at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg.α-Hederin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) reduces paw edema in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). It dose-dependently prevents carbon tetrachloride-induced increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, as well as hepatic levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in a mouse model of hepatic injury.α-Hederin also decreases levels of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform CYP2E1 in mouse liver.

C₄₁H₆₆O₁₂

DMSO