title: Antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity of Athamanta sicula L. (Apiaceae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Athamanta sicula L., a member of Apiaceae, is an annual perennial herb and it is known in Sicilian popular medicine with the name of "spaccapietre" (rock splitters), because fresh roots infusions are indicated as diuretic and used in the treatment of diseases of the urinary tract, and to dissolve kidney stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acetone extracts of leaves, flowers, and stems of A. sicula L. were investigated in vitro for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. Antimicrobial activity was carried out against bacterial and fungal strains and antiproliferative activity against a group of human cancer cell lines (K-562, NCI-H460, and MCF-7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All acetone extracts, apiol and myristicin, resulted inactive as antimicrobial agents at the maximum tested concentration of 200 μg/mL, but they induced significant antiproliferative activity on the tested cancer cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study show that both apiol and myristicin could be tested as novel treatment in cancer chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Vita Di
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Stefano
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pitonzo
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schillaci