Quinone reductase inducing activity of the dichloromethane /ethanol extract of the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis.

Agents with phase II enzyme inducing activities play important roles in intervening in the carcinogenic process. In the present study, the quinone reductase (QR) inducing activities of nine known triterpene saponins from the dichloromethane/ethanol extract of the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis were tested. The oleanane saponins exhibited more potent QR inducing activities than the lupane saponins, and the CD value of the compound with the most potent QR inducing activity was 1.1 microM. The chemopreventive activity of the dichloromethane/ethanol extract was also evaluated using the DMBA-induced mice model.