Purpurogallin inhibits DNA synthesis of murine fibrosarcoma L-929 and human U-87 MG glioblastoma cells in vitro.

We demonstrated, for the first time, that the flavonoid purpurogallin (PPG) at 0.2-0.5 mM inhibits DNA synthesis of murine fibrosarcoma L-929 and human U-87 MG glioblastoma cells in vitro. In the human U-87 MG glioblastoma cell experiments, we found that when cells were incubated with PPG at 0.5 mM for 0.5 and 24 h, about 25 and 50% inhibition of DNA compared with control were observed respectively. In contrast, 0.5 mM Trolox (a more polar analogue of vitamin E) did not inhibit DNA synthesis in both cell lines. These data indicate that PPG inhibits the synthesis of DNA in two distinct tumour cell lines.