title: Evaluation of putative cytotoxic activity of crude extracts from Onopordum acanthium leaves and Spartium junceum flowers against the U-373 glioblastoma cell line.
abstract: Crude hydromethanolic (80% methanol) extracts produced by maceration of Onopordum acanthium leaves and Spartium junceum flowers were tested for cytotoxic effects against glioblastoma U-373 tumour cells. Onopordum acanthium extract was found to be ~5 times more cytotoxic than Spartium junceum (IC50 values of 309 and 1602μg/ml, respectively). Similar to most chemotherapeutic agents killing through the intrinsic pathway, Onopordum killed the cells via apoptosis, which was confirmed by the activation of caspase-3. Spartium exerted its weak cytotoxic effect, presumably by a caspase-independent, non-apoptotic form of necrotic-like programmed cell death. Onopordum acanthium is considered a promising plant for the researchers investigating putative biological activities, particularly antitumour and immune-related activity.
authors.affiliation: Deptt. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Universitario, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Yousef Abdel-Kareem
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Abusamra
authors.affiliation: Deptt. of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, Policlinico Universitario, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scuruchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Development of Natural Resources and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances, Mentouri University, Constantine, Algeria / Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Mentouri University, Constantine, Algeria.
authors.forename: Sofiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habibatni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Mentouri University, Constantine, Algeria.
authors.forename: Zenib
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Maammeri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Development of Natural Resources and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances, Mentouri University, Constantine, Algeria.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benayache
authors.affiliation: Deptt. of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, Policlinico Universitario, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ascola
authors.affiliation: Deptt. of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, Policlinico Universitario, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avenoso
authors.affiliation: Deptt. of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, Policlinico Universitario, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Maurizio
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: Deptt. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Universitario, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spina
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D035264:Flowers; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D031183:Onopordum; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D031302:Spartium
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3