title: Genista sessilifolia DC. extracts induce apoptosis across a range of cancer cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Restorative properties of medicinal plants such as Genista sessilifolia DC. have often been suggested to occur, in epidemiological studies. However, full characterization of effective principles responsible for this action has never previously been performed. Here, we have characterized G. sessilifolia's anti-cancer effects and identified the chemical components involved in this anti-tumour action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell cycle, apoptosis, necrosis, differentiation analyses, high-performance liquid chromatography, western blotting, RNA extraction, real-time PCR and primers have all been observed/used in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report that G. sessilifolia methanol extract has anti-cancer activity on solid and haematological cancer cells. G. sessilifolia extract's anti-proliferative action is closely bound to induction of apoptosis, whereas differentiation is only weakly modulated. Analysis of G. sessilifolia extract, by high-performance liquid chromatography, identifies fraction 18-22 as the pertinent component for induction of apoptosis, whereas fractions 11-13 and 27-30 both seem to contribute to differentiation. G. sessilifolia extract induces apoptosis mediated by caspase activation and p21, Rb, p53, Bcl2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD), tumour necrosis factor receptor super-family, member 10 (TRAIL) overexpression and death receptor 5 (DR5). Accordingly, fraction 18-22 inducing apoptosis was able to induce TRAIL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that G. sessilifolia extract and its fraction 18-22 containing genistin and isoprunetin, were able to induce anti-cancer effects supporting the hypothesis of a pro-apoptotic intrinsic content of this natural medicinal plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico Luigi de Crecchio 7, Naples, 80138, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bontempo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rigano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nebbioso
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carafa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caserta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altucci
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D039761:Genista / Q000737:chemistry*; D019833:Genistein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494819:BAD protein, human; D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; C040641:genistin; D019833:Genistein; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D000432:Methanol