Antiproliferative Activity of “Lycopersicon esculentum” Leaves (Var. Paul Robenson): Preliminary Study

Carmela Saturnino, Annalisa Spagnuolo, Chiara Palladino, Ada Popolo, Giuseppina Tommonaro, Rocco De Prisco, Aldo Pinto

Council of National Research (CNR)—Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Pozzuoli, Italy.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo 84084, Fisciano, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2013.46081                

Abstract

Among plants, the Lycopersicon esculentum (Solanaceae) is the most important for its beneficial effects on health. Several epidemiological studies have shown the benefits of tomato consumption in the cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. Tomato products constitute the major source of lycopene, the most potent antioxidant among carotenoids in vitro. In tomatoes leaves are also present many secondary metabolites including phenolic compounds, phytoalexins, protease inhibitors and glycoalkaloids who protect against adverse effects of hosts including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and insects and are involved in host-plant resistance. In this work we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of tomato leaves extract (var. Paul Robenson) in vitro.

Keywords

Lycopersicon esculentum; Antiproliferative Activity; Glioma Cell Line

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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