Clastogenic effect of atranorin, evernic acid, and usnic acid on human lymphocytes

Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Apr;9(4):503-4.

Abstract

Three lichen secondary metabolites atranorin (1), evernic acid (2), and usnic acid (3), were evaluated for their in vitro clastogenic and antiproliferative effects on human lymphocytes using the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay at concentrations of 2 microg/mL, 4 microg/mL and 6 microg/mL of final culture solution. The frequency of micronucleus (MN) was scored in binucleated cells, and cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) was calculated. Among the tested compounds, 3 exhibited the most prominent effect decreasing the frequency of MN in the range of 42.5% - 48.9%, that is about double of the positive control amifostin WR-2721 that reduces MN frequency for 22.0%. The effect of evernic acid was approximately equal to action of amifostin (23.2% -32.9%). Atranorin at concentrations of 2 microg/mL and 4 microg/mL decreasing the frequency of MN only for 11.1% and 1.8%, while in concentration of 6 microg/mL increases the frequency of MN for 9.6 %. The comparable CBPI values of the investigated compounds and control suggested that they did not show a statistically significant inhibitory effect on lymphocyte cell proliferation at applied concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzofurans / chemistry
  • Benzofurans / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydroxybenzoates / chemistry
  • Hydroxybenzoates / pharmacology*
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • Molecular Structure

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Hydroxybenzoates
  • usnic acid
  • atranorin
  • evernic acid