Effects of malachite green (MG) and its major metabolite, leucomalachite green (LMG), in two human cell lines.
Malachite green (MG) is still illegally used as a fungicide in aquaculture. In fish it is absorbed and metabolised to its major reduced metabolite, leucomalachite green (LMG). This latter represents the main residue found in fish tissues and may persist for several months. Since MG, suspected to act as a tumour promoter in vitro and in vivo, might be also present as a residue in fish, the present study was undertaken to ascertain the in vitro toxicity of both compounds in two human tumour cell lines (Caco-2 and HEp-2). After 24h incubation with MG, significant decreases of cell viability, measured by neutral red uptake (NRU) or total protein content (TPC) as well as proliferation capability (colony-forming ability, CFA) were noticed in HEp-2 cells; the mean IC(50) value was about 2 microM. As regards the differentiated Caco-2 cells, MG caused a dose-related significant cytotoxicity, measured either by MTT test, the LDH leakage or NRU, with a mean IC(50) value of about 15 microM. By contrast, LMG disclosed, in both cell lines, a lower cytotoxicity compared to MG. These results also show that HEp-2 cells are more sensitive than intestinal cells to the toxic action of both compounds.
Stammati
Annalaura
A
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università di Torino, via Leonardo da Vinci 44, I-10095 Grugliasco (Torino), Italy.
Nebbia
Carlo
C
Angelis
Isabella De
ID
Albo
Alessandra Giuliano
AG
Carletti
Monica
M
Rebecchi
Claudia
C
Zampaglioni
Franco
F
Dacasto
Mauro
M
D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000814:Aniline Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C005095:malachite green; C015320:leucomalachite green