Abstract
Plants are still to be explored for new anti-cancer compounds because overall success in cancer treatment is still not satisfactory. As a new possible source for such compounds, the lichens are recently taking a great attention. We, therefore, explored both the genotoxic and anti-growth properties of lichen species Parmelia sulcata Taylor. The chemical composition of P. sulcata was analyzed with comprehensive gas chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry. Anti-growth effect was tested in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) by the MTT and ATP viability assays, while the genotoxic activity was studied by assays for micronucleus, chromosomal aberration and DNA fragmentation in human lymphocytes culture. Cell death modes (apoptosis/necrosis) were morphologically assessed. P. sulcata inhibited the growth in a dose-dependent manner up to a dose of 100 μg/ml and induced caspase-independent apoptosis. It also showed genotoxic activity at doses (>125 μg/ml) higher than that required for apoptosis. These results suggest that P. sulcata may induce caspase-independent apoptotic cell death at lower doses, while it may be genotoxic at relatively higher doses.
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Acknowledgments
We appreciate the Research Fund of Uludag University for the Project that is numbered UAP(F)-2011/42 as for providing us with the kits/chemicals. The authors would like to thank Neslihan Onder Ozdemir (Lecturer of Medical English, Uludag University) for her comments on linguistic improvement. We thank Prof. Dr. Ayhan Bilir (Istanbul University, Turkey) for the cell lines and thank Nazlihan Aztopal, Mehmet Sarimahmut and Sezin Bozdemir for technical assistance.
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Ari, F., Ulukaya, E., Oran, S. et al. Promising anticancer activity of a lichen, Parmelia sulcata Taylor, against breast cancer cell lines and genotoxic effect on human lymphocytes. Cytotechnology 67, 531–543 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-014-9713-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-014-9713-4