Epanorin, a lichen secondary metabolite, inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Abstract Background: Epanorin (EP) is a secondary metabolite of the Acarospora lichenic species. EP has been found in lichenic extracts with antimicrobial activity, and UV-absorption properties have been described for closely related molecules; however, its antiproliferative activity in cancer cells has not yet been explored. It has been hypothesized that EP inhibits cancer cell growth. MCF-7 breast cancer cells, normal fibroblasts, and the non-transformed HEK-293 cell line were exposed to increasing concentrations of EP, and proliferation was assessed by the sulforhodamine-B assay. Results: MCF-7 cells exposed to EP were examined for cell cycle progression using flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation was examined using the TUNEL assay. In addition, EP's mutagenic activity was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay. The data showed that EP inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and it induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 through a DNA fragmentation-independent mechanism. Furthermore, EP's lack of overt cytotoxicity in the normal cell line HEK-293 and human fibroblasts in cell culture is supported by the absence of mutagenic activity of EP. Conclusion: EP emerges as a suitable molecule for further studies as a potential antineoplastic agent.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Palacios-Moreno,Juan, Rubio,Cecilia, Quilhot,Wanda, Cavieres,M. Fernanda, Peña,Eduardo de la, Quiñones,Natalia V., Díaz,Hugo, Carrión,Flavio, Henríquez-Roldán,Carlos F., Weinstein-Oppenheimer,Caroline R.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedad de Biología de Chile 2019
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-97602019000100251
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!