Lupeol is a novel androgen receptor inhibitor.

Lupeol, an effective AR inhibitor, can be developed as a potential agent to treat human prostate cancer (CaP). Lupeol (10–50 μM) treatment for 48 h results in a dose-dependent growth inhibition of androgen-dependent phenotype (ADPC) cells viz., LAPC4 and LNCaP cells with an IC50 of 15.9 and 17.3 μM, respectively. Lupeol also inhibits the growth of 22Rν_1 with an IC50 of 19.1 μM. Further, Lupeol inhibits the growth of C4-2b cells with an IC50 of 25 μM. Lupeol has the potential to inhibit the growth of CaP cells of both ADPC and CRPC phenotype. Androgens by activating AR are known to drive the growth of CaP cells[1].

Lupeol is an effective agent that has the potential to inhibit the tumorigenicity of CaP cells in vivo. At the conclusion of the study on day 56, the total circulating serum-PSA levels (secreted by the implanted tumor cells) are measured. At 56thday post-implantation, PSA levels are observed between 11.95-12.79 ng/mL in control animals with LNCaP-tumors and C4-2b-tumors, respectively. However, Lupeol-treated counterpart animals exhibits reduced serum-PSA levels in a range of 4.25-7.09 ng/mL. Tumor tissues of animals receiving Lupeol treatment exhibits reduced serum-PSA levels as compared to control[1].