title: Knipholone anthrone from Kniphofia foliosa induces a rapid onset of necrotic cell death in cancer cells.
abstract: The present study examines the comparative cytotoxicity of knipholone (KP) and knipholone anthrone (KA) in leukaemic and melonocyte cancer cell lines. It was found that KA induces a rapid onset of cytotoxicity with IC(50) values ranging from 0.5 to 3.3 μM. In comparison to KA, KP was 70-480-times less toxic to cancer cells. Morphological and biochemical studies revealed that the cytotoxicity of KA was coupled with a quick loss of membrane integrity leading to necrotic cell death. The study identified KA as a new class of natural potential anticancer agent with a wide range of toxicological and pharmacological implications.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Medway School of Science, University of Greenwich, Chatham-Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK. s.habtemariam@gre.ac.uk
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habtemariam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D000095322:Anthrones
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C543143:knipholone anthrone; D000095322:Anthrones