title: Novel phenotypes related to the breeding of purple-fruited tomatoes and effect of peel extracts on human cancer cell proliferation.
abstract: The production of anthocyanins in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit is normally absent or poor, but a number of mutants or introgression lines are known to increase anthocyanin levels in vegetative and reproductive tissues. Through conventional breeding, a genetic combination was obtained with the remarkable phenotype of a deep purple fruit pigmentation, due to an accumulation of anthocyanins on the peel. Such a genotype was named Sun Black (SB) as a consequence of its sensitivity to light induction. When characterized for morpho-agronomic traits, SB plants showed increased fertility. Purple fruits displayed an arrangement of the epicarp cells different from normal tomatoes, a feature that could account for different mechanical properties and shelf-life potential. The SB genotype and, to a lesser extent, its single mutant parents showed the capacity to accumulate anthocyanins in the seedling root when grown under light. This phenotype, which was greatly improved by the addition of sucrose to the germination medium, proved to be useful as selection index and gave new insights for in vitro production of anthocyanin extracts. To assess the nutraceutical potential of purple tomatoes, we tested the activity of SB skin extracts on the proliferation of two human cancer cells lines. Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by SB extract in a dose-dependent manner. When the bioactivity of SB extracts was compared with that of other anthocyanin-containing fruits or vegetables, a significant "Extract*Line" interaction was evidenced, suggesting a crucial role for the extract composition in terms of anthocyanidins and other eventual cell growth-inhibiting compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. Electronic address: mazz@unitus.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzucato
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernini
authors.forename: Maurizio E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Picarella
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiu
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tilesi
authors.forename: Gian Piero
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Soressi
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001947:Breeding; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; AN2; ANT1; ANTHOCYANIN1; ANTHOCYANIN2; Aft; Anthocyanin fruit; Anthocyanin mutants; Antioxidants; CHS; FW; GA(3); GM; MTT; OD; SB; Selection index; Solanum lycopersicum L.; Sun Black; WT; atroviolaceum; atv; chalcone synthase; fresh weight; genetically modified; gibberellic acid; optical density; wild-type