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Planta Med 2010; 76(5): 444-446
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1186224
Pharmacology
Letters
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cytotoxic Activity and G1 Cell Cycle Arrest of a Dienynone from Echinacea pallida

Andrea Chicca1 , Barbara Adinolfi1 , Federica Pellati2 , Giulia Orlandini2 , Stefania Benvenuti2 , Paola Nieri1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

received January 19, 2009 revised September 4, 2009

accepted September 21, 2009

Publication Date:
20 October 2009 (online)

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Abstract

In the present study, a further investigation of the cytotoxic activity of an acetylenic constituent of Echinacea pallida roots, namely, pentadeca-(8Z,13Z)-dien-11-yn-2-one, was performed, revealing a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity on several human cancer cell lines, including leukemia (Jurkat and HL-60), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and melanoma (MeWo) cells. As part of its mechanism of action, the ability of this constituent to arrest the cell cycle in the G1 phase was demonstrated on HL-60 cells. Furthermore, a stability test of the target compound over 72 h was carried out, indicating that the cytotoxic activity can be attributed mainly to the genuine, not oxidized, molecule.

Key words

Echinacea pallida (Asteraceae) - acetylenes - polyenes - cell cycle - cytotoxicity - cancer

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Dr. Andrea Chicca

Core Research Laboratory
Istituto Toscano Tumori

Via Cosimo il Vecchio 2

50139 Firenze

Italy

Phone: + 39 0 55 32 69 75 85

Email: andrea.chicca@ittumori.it