Recent Updates Regarding the Antiproliferative Activity of <i>Galium verum</i> Extracts on A375 Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Line
Alexandra-Denisa Semenescu,
Elena-Alina Moacă,
Andrada Iftode,
Cristina-Adriana Dehelean,
Diana-Simona Tchiakpe-Antal,
Laurian Vlase,
Slavita Rotunjanu,
Delia Muntean,
Sorin Dan Chiriac,
Raul Chioibaş
Affiliations
Alexandra-Denisa Semenescu
Department of Toxicology, Drug Industry, Management and Legislation, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Elena-Alina Moacă
Department of Toxicology, Drug Industry, Management and Legislation, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Andrada Iftode
Department of Toxicology, Drug Industry, Management and Legislation, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Cristina-Adriana Dehelean
Department of Toxicology, Drug Industry, Management and Legislation, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Diana-Simona Tchiakpe-Antal
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Laurian Vlase
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8th Victor Babes Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Slavita Rotunjanu
Department of Pharmacology-Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Delia Muntean
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Sorin Dan Chiriac
Department X—Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Raul Chioibaş
Department IX—Surgery I, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
The biological activity of Galium verum herba was exerted on various tumor cell lines with incredible results, but their potential effect on malignant melanoma has not been established yet. Therefore, the current study was structured in two directions: (i) the investigation of the phytochemical profile of diethyl ether (GvDEE) and butanol (GvBuOH) extracts of G. verum L. and (ii) the evaluation of their biological profile on A375 human malignant melanoma cell line. The GvDEE extract showed an FT-IR profile different from the butanol one, with high antioxidant capacity (EC50 of GvDEE = 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/mL > EC50 of GvBuOH = 0.18 ± 0.05 mg/mL). The GvDEE extract also showed antimicrobial potential, especially against Gram-positive bacteria strains, compared to the butanol extract, which has no antimicrobial activity against any bacterial strain tested. The results regarding the antitumor potential showed that both extracts decreased A375 cell viability largely (69% at a dose of 55 µg/mL of the GvDEE extract). Moreover, both extracts induce nuclear fragmentation by forming apoptotic bodies and slight chromatin condensation, which is more intense for GvDEE. Considering the results, one can state that the Galium verum herba possesses antitumor effects on the A375 human malignant melanoma cell line, a promising phytocompound for the antitumor approach to skin cancer.