Title:Fig Latex (Ficus carica L. cultivar Dottato) in Combination with UV Irradiation Decreases the Viability of A375 Melanoma Cells In Vitro
Volume: 12
Issue: 8
Author(s): Giulio Menichini, Carmine Alfano, Eugenio Provenzano, Mariangela Marrelli, Giancarlo A. Statti, Francesco Somma, Francesco Menichini and Filomena Conforti
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Anticancer drug, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative activity, Anti-radical activity, Coumarines, Ficus carica cv. Dottato, Fruits, Latex, Leaves, Melanoma, Natural products, Phototoxicity, Polyphenolic compounds, Reactive oxygen species, UVA light
Abstract: Melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers are among the most prevalent cancers in the human population. In the present work
latex of Ficus carica cultivar Dottato from Italy collected from fruits and leaves was examined to assess its free radical-scavenging
activity with 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and its phototoxicity on A375 human melanoma cells. The latex obtained from the
fruits of Ficus carica cv. Dottato showed the best antiradical activity with an IC50 value of 0.05 mg/ml while the latex obtained from the
leaves showed the best antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 1.5 μg/ml on the human tumor cell line A375 (melanoma) after
irradiation at a specific UVA dose (1.08 J/cm2). Control experiments with UVA light or drugs alone were carried out without significant
cytotoxic effects. Polyphenolic content of the samples was also evaluated. This is the first study comparing F. carica latex of leaves and
fruits. Plant derived natural products have long been and will continue to be an important source for anticancer drug development.
