ANTINEOPLASTIC EFFECTS OF DAPHNE MUCRONATA: INHIBITION OF DNA AND RNA SYNTHESIS

Cytotoxicity evaluation of Daphne mucronata (Thymelaeaceae) extract and one of its active purified components, using seven different cancerous cell lines, revealed the strong antiproliferative activity of the plant. Using flow cytometry technique, it was found that treatment of the most responsive cells (K562) with the plant extract or the active component inhibited the progression of cells through G1 phase by almost 15% compared to the untreated cells. Based on the extent of [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-uridine incorporation into DNA and RNA, respectively, the major metabolic effects of D. mucronata were found to be mainly on DNA and to a less extent on RNA synthesis. These data strongly support the flow cytometry observation and provide a mechanism for the antiproliferative activity of D. mucronata.