title: Antiproliferative activity of hexane extract from Tunisian Cistus libanotis, Cistus monspeliensis and Cistus villosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a part of our investigation on Tunisian medicinal plants, we have carried out a phytochemical investigation of the hexane extracts from leaves of Cistus libanotis, C. villosus and C. monspeliensis, evualuating also their possible antiproliferative activity in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major compounds of hexane extracts were identified and quantified by GC-MS. The composition of the three species, although belonging to the same genus, is completely different. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated against murine monocyte/macrophages (J774.A1), human melanoma cells (A-375), and human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), showing major activity against the human melanoma cell line A-375.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chemical composition of the hexane extracts from the three Cistus species can be useful in the chemosystematics of this complex genus. The preliminary antiproliferative activity against human melanoma cell line A-375 deserve further investigations in order to determine the compounds, or their combinations, which are the main responsible for the antiproliferative activity and its possible mechanism(s) of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084, Fisciano (Salerno), Italy. defeo@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Mariem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Jemia
authors.forename: Mohamed Elyes
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kchouk
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Senatore
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Autore
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marzocco
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Feo
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruno