triptolide analog

A water soluble analog of the diterpenoid triepoxide triptolide isolated from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f., with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon intravenous administration, the triptolide analog inhibits heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and prevents HSP70-mediated inhibition of apoptosis. This leads to both the induction of apoptosis and a reduction of cancer cell growth. HSP70, a molecular chaperone upregulated in various cancer cells, plays a key role in the inhibition of caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis.