Antiproliferative, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the lichen Xanthoria parietina and its secondary metabolite parietin.

Abstract

Lichens are valuable natural resources used for centuries throughout the world as medicine, food, fodder, perfume, spices and dyes, as well as for other miscellaneous purposes. This study investigates the antiproliferative, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the acetone extract of the lichen Xanthoria parietina (Linnaeus) Theodor Fries and its major secondary metabolite, parietin. The extract and parietin were tested for antimicrobial activity against nine American Type Culture Collection standard and clinically isolated bacterial strains, and three fungal strains. Both showed strong antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains and matched clinical isolates, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus from standard and clinical sources. Among the fungi tested, Rhizoctonia solani was the most sensitive. The antiproliferative effects of the extract and parietin were also investigated in human breast cancer cells. The extract inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis, both effects being accompanied by modulation of expression of cell cycle regulating genes such as p16, p27, cyclin D1 and cyclin A. It also mediated apoptosis by activating extrinsic and intrinsic cell death pathways, modulating Tumor Necrosis Factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and inducing Bcl-2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD) phosphorylation. Our results indicate that Xanthoria parietina is a major potential source of antimicrobial and anticancer substances.

• Authors: Adriana Basile, Daniela Rigano, Stefano Loppi, Annalisa Di Santi, Angela Nebbioso, Sergio Sorbo, Barbara Conte, Luca Paoli, Francesca De Ruberto, Anna Maria Molinari, Lucia Altucci, Paola Bontempo
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 16 Issue 4 Pg. 7861-75 (Apr 09 2015) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 25860944 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Antifungal Agents
• Cell Cycle Proteins
• Plant Extracts
• physcione
• Emodin

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Antifungal Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Cell Cycle Proteins (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Emodin (analogs & derivatives, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lichens (chemistry)
• MCF-7 Cells
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Rhizoctonia (drug effects)
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects)