Cytostatic Properties of a Novel Compound Derived from Penicillium pinophilum: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

3-O-Methylfunicone (OMF), a secondary metabolite produced by Penicillium pinophilum, inhibits the in vitro growth of plant pathogenic fungi. This specific property suggested that the compound could be used against other fungal pathogenic activities, including dermatological ones. However, for such applications, toxicological side-effects should be taken into account, in order to prevent other types of risk to mammalian cells. Therefore, investigations were made of the basic toxicity of OMF toward a human tumour cell line. The compound was found to have a cytostatic effect, which represents a counter-indication to its use as a therapeutic agent in dermatology, but suggests that it may have potential as an antitumour agent. This study confirmed the validity of in vitro systems for preliminary assays on new compounds, in order to avoid the use of animals in toxicological studies.

3‐O‐methylfunicone produced by penicillium pinophilum affects cell motility of breast cancer cells, downregulating αvβ5 integrin and inhibiting metalloproteinase‐9 secretion

“…OMF has already been characterized as an antiproliferative compound on Hep‐2 and HeLa cells [15, 16]. In the present article, we report that OMF induces a reduction of proliferation and inhibition of motility in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 cells.…”

“…On the basis of these data, we analyzed 3‐ O ‐methylfunicone (OMF), a secondary metabolite produced by the soil fungus Penicillium pinophilum [13]. The compound is cytotoxic and has been found to be involved in antagonism by P. pinophilum towards the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani [14] and has displayed potent cytostatic properties on human tumor cells (HEp‐2) [15]. As our previous studies carried out on HeLa cells reported that OMF causes growth arrest and apoptosis [16], we were prompted to better evaluate it as an antitumoral compound.…”

3‐O‐Methylfunicone, a secondary metabolite produced by Penicillium pinophilum, induces growth arrest and apoptosis in HeLa cells

“…1999). Previous studies carried out on a human tumour cell line (Hep‐2, derived from a laryngial carcinoma) reported the cytostatic properties of the compound (Stammati et al. 2002).…”

“…Its antagonistic behaviour has been reported in relation to the production of 3-O -methylfunicone (OMF), a secondary metabolite which inhibits in vitro growth of several fungal species, including dermatophytes ( De Stefano et al 1999). Previous studies carried out on a human tumour cell line (Hep-2, derived from a laryngial carcinoma) reported the cytostatic properties of the compound (Stammati et al 2002).…”

3‐O‐Methylfunicone, a metabolite produced by Penicillium pinophilum, modulates ERK1/2 activity, affecting cell motility of human mesothelioma cells

“…3‐ O ‐methylfunicone (OMF) is a secondary metabolite produced by the soil fungus Penicillium pinophilum (3) that has been found to antagonize growth of the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani (4). Previous studies carried out on cells of various tumour cell lines have demonstrated that OMF can induce the apoptotic pathway and inhibit cell motility (5–8).…”