Jasione montana L. (Campanulaceae) is a common biennial plant, with ethnopharmacological report indicates its use in sleep disorders in children [1]. Because our previous study showed significant cytotoxic activity of the Et2O fraction (JM4), we decided to evaluate on human melanoma cells (CRL-1585) the apoptosis induction ability of JM4 (25-100 μg/mL) and its main compound 22 (25 μg/mL) assessed as luteolin based on the LC-MS phytochemical profile. The characterization of apoptotic pathways through caspase activation proved that JM4 (100 μg/mL) influences the initiation of the external and intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway by activating caspase-8 (41.8±0.5%), caspase-9 (40.9±2.4%) and caspase-10 (43.7±1.1%), as well as activation of the effector caspase, caspase-3, directly responsible for apoptosis and DNA damage. The obtained results were almost twofold more significant than after treatment with vinblastine sulphate (positive control). Luteolin (22) (25 μg/mL) displayed a slightly weaker impact on the activation of mentioned caspases. The results of the intrinsic pathway of mitochondrial apoptosis agree with the previous reports documenting the ability of JM4 and 22 to induce mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, the alterations of cell cycle progression demonstrate JM4 (100 μg/mL) and 22 (25 μg/mL) to accumulate C32 cells in the S and G2/M phases and reduce the G1 phase. Our results indicated that the fraction from J. montana and its main compound, luteolin demonstrated significant proapoptotic potential and can effectively prepare with anticancer properties. Further studies of the phytochemical and biological assays are currently in progress.
