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Macrì R, Musolino V, Gliozzi M, Carresi C, Maiuolo J, Nucera S, Scicchitano M, Bosco F, Scarano F, Ruga S, Zito MC, Guarnieri L, Bombardelli E, Mollace V. Ferula L. Plant Extracts and Dose-Dependent Activity of Natural Sesquiterpene Ferutinin: From Antioxidant Potential to Cytotoxic Effects. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235768. [PMID: 33297504 PMCID: PMC7731292 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The employment studies of natural extracts in the prevention and treatment of several diseases highlighted the role of different species of genus Ferula L., belonging to the Apiaceae family, dicotyledonous plants present in many temperate zones of our planet. Ferula communis L. is the main source of sesquiterpene ferutinin, a bioactive compound studied both in vitro and in vivo, because of different effects, such as phytoestrogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, but also antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, performed in a dose-dependent and cell-dependent way. The present review will focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in the different activities of Ferutinin, starting from its antioxidant potential at low doses until its ionophoric property and the subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction induced through administration of high doses, which represent the key point of its anticancer action. Furthermore, we will summarize the data acquired from some experimental studies on different cell types and on several diseases. The results obtained showed an important antioxidant and phytoestrogenic regulation with lack of typical side effects related to estrogenic therapy. The preferential cell death induction for tumor cell lines suggests that ferutinin may have anti-neoplastic properties, and may be used as an antiproliferative and cytotoxic agent in an estrogen dependent and independent manner. Nevertheless, more data are needed to clearly understand the effect of ferutinin in animals before using it as a phytoestrogen or anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Macrì
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.); (V.M.); Tel./Fax: +39-0961-3694301 (R.M. & V.M.)
| | - Vincenzo Musolino
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.); (V.M.); Tel./Fax: +39-0961-3694301 (R.M. & V.M.)
| | - Micaela Gliozzi
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Cristina Carresi
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Jessica Maiuolo
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Saverio Nucera
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Miriam Scicchitano
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Francesca Bosco
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Federica Scarano
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Stefano Ruga
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Maria Caterina Zito
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Lorenza Guarnieri
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Ezio Bombardelli
- Nutramed S.c.a.r.l., Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, 88021 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Mollace
- Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health IRC-FSH, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.M.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.); (S.R.); (M.C.Z.); (L.G.); (V.M.)
- Nutramed S.c.a.r.l., Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, 88021 Catanzaro, Italy;
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