Screening for natural anticancer agents using a fission yeast bioassay

A fission-yeast bioassay guided screening on several plant extracts is carried out to search for anticancer agents, and an extract from leaves of Corema album (L.) D. Don (Ericaceae) is found to have antiproliferative activity. Further fractionation afforded 2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone (DHC) as the main cytotoxic compound present in the extract. Our detailed biological analysis shows that antiproliferative activity of this flavonoid is likely due to its ability to induce DNA damage which blocks cell cycle progression.This work was supported by grants to RRD from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovación) BFU2010-21310 and from La Junta de AndaluciaP09-CTS-4697 (PROYECTO DE EXCELENCIA). MAS-P was supported by a fellowship from El Consejo Andaluz de Colegios Oficiales de Farmacéuticos. AJ L-G was supported by a FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovación).Peer Reviewe