INVESTIGADORES
ENRIZ Ricardo Daniel
artículos
Título:
Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on hepatocytes of secondary metabolites obtained from lichens
Autor/es:
E.R.CORRECHE, R.D.ENRIZ, M PIOVANO, J GARBARINO AND M.J GOMEZ-LECHON
Revista:
Alternatives To Laboratory Animals
Editorial:
Elsevier
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2004 vol. 32 p. 605 - 615
ISSN:
0261-1929
Resumen:
There are a large number of species of Antarctic lichens, and several studies describing the
secondary metabolites present in these lichens, as well as the advances in understanding the chemistry of
these metabolites, have been reported. In addition, some derivatives displaying interesting antibacterial
effects have been described. The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of 15 secondary metabolites (depsides,
depsidones and usnic acid) obtained from Continental (Chilean) and Antarctic lichens were evaluated in primary
cultures of rat hepatocytes. Intracellular lactate dehydrogenase release, caspase 3 activation and DNA
fragmentation were measured. In this study, we have evaluated a set of markers associated with pivotal
steps in the execution phase of apoptosis, in order to detect compounds with apoptotic effects on hepatocytes
before significant necrosis takes place. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA fragmentation revealed an
increase in apoptotic nuclei with sub-diploid DNA content after the exposure of hepatocytes to sub-cytotoxic
concentrations of the compounds. Among these, salazinic acid, stictic acid and psoromic acid displayed
significant apoptotic activities. Divaricatic acid showed only moderate apoptotic effects at
sub-cytotoxic concentrations.