title: Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Ebenus boissieri Barbey on human lung cancer cell line A549.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fabaceae family members are known to possess preventive and therapeutic potentials against various types of cancers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts and roots of an endemic Ebenus species; Ebenus boissieri Barbey in human lung cancer cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  After treatment with hydroalcoholic extracts cytotoxic activities of both extracts were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, whereas caspase-3 activity, tumor necrosis factor-a lpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) releasewere measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to in vitro assay results, the increase in all caspases activity suggested that extracts induce cells to undergo apoptosis. Especially, induction in caspase-3 activity was the most remarkable result of this study. Both aerial part and root extracts induced apoptosis by increasing caspase-3 activity, TNF-α and IFN-γ release. When compared to their relative controls, the concentrations of both TNF-α and IFN-γ in extract-treated groups were significantly and dose dependently exalted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results indicate that the hydroalcoholic extracts of E. boissieri can be considered as a source of new anti-apoptotic and therefore anti-carcinogenic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra Arslan
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Antalya School of Health, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ece
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, and Institute of Life Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilüfer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan Süleyman
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Göktürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yeditepe University, Atasehir 34755, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yesilada
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kayahan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fiskin
keywords: Apoptosis; Ebenus boissieri; caspase; interferon-gamma; lung cancer; tumor necrosis factor-alpha