title: Chloroform extract from Moricandia arvensis inhibits growth of B16-F0 melanoma cells and promotes differentiation in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Poor therapeutic results have been reported for treatment of malignant melanoma; therefore in this study we have investigated inhibitory capacity of ethyl acetate, chloroform (Chl) and methanol extracts from Moricandia arvensis on mouse melanoma (B16-F0) and human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell proliferation. Influence of Chl extract on percentage distribution in cell cycle phases and melanogenesis was also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability was determined at various periods using the MTT assay, and flow cytometry was used to analyse effects of Chl extract on progression through the cell cycle and apoptosis. In addition, amounts of melanin and tyrosinase were measured spectrophotometrically at 475 nm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chl extract exhibited significant anti-proliferative activity after incubation with the two types of tumour skin cells. Morphological changes in B16-F0 cells, accompanied by increase of tyrosinase activity, and of melanin synthesis were observed, which are markers of differentiation of malignant melanoma cells. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis revealed that B16-F0 cells treated with Chl extract were arrested predominantly in G(1) phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chl extract had the ability to reverse malignant melanoma cells from proliferative to differentiated state, thus providing a new perspective in developing novel strategies for prevention and treatment of malignant melanoma, possibly through consumption of the extract in an appropriate cancer prevention diet. Moreover, there is scope for the extract being introduced into cosmetic products as a natural tanning agent.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine of Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skandrani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chekir-Ghedira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002725:Chloroform / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002725:Chloroform; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase