Helleborus purpurascens-Amino Acid and Peptide Analysis Linked to the Chemical and Antiproliferative Properties of the Extracted Compounds.

Molecules. 2015 Dec 11;20(12):22170-87. doi: 10.3390/molecules201219819. Segneanu AE1,2, Grozescu I3,4, Cziple F5, Berki D6, Damian D7,8, Niculite CM9,10, Florea A11,12, Leabu M13,14. Author information 1 National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter-INCEMC, Timisoara 300224, Romania. s_adinaelena@yahoo.com. 2 University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, Timisoara 300006, Romania. s_adinaelena@yahoo.com. 3 National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter-INCEMC, Timisoara 300224, Romania. ioangrozescu@gmail.com. 4 University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, Timisoara 300006, Romania. ioangrozescu@gmail.com. 5 University "Eftimie Murgu", Resita, 1-4 Traian Vuia, Resita 320085, Romania. cflorentina@yahoo.com. 6 University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, Timisoara 300006, Romania. berki_daniel@yahoo.com. 7 National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter-INCEMC, Timisoara 300224, Romania. danieldamian83@gmail.com. 8 University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, Timisoara 300006, Romania. danieldamian83@gmail.com. 9 Department of Morphological Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 8 Eroilor Sanitari Blvd, Sector 5, Bucharest 050474, Romania. maria.niculite@ivb.ro. 10 "Victor Babes" National Institute of Pathology, 99-101, Splaiul Independentei, Sector 5, Bucharest 050096, Romania. maria.niculite@ivb.ro. 11 Department of Morphological Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 8 Eroilor Sanitari Blvd, Sector 5, Bucharest 050474, Romania. alexflorea1992@gmail.com. 12 "Victor Babes" National Institute of Pathology, 99-101, Splaiul Independentei, Sector 5, Bucharest 050096, Romania. alexflorea1992@gmail.com. 13 Department of Morphological Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 8 Eroilor Sanitari Blvd, Sector 5, Bucharest 050474, Romania. mircea.leabu@ivb.ro. 14 "Victor Babes" National Institute of Pathology, 99-101, Splaiul Independentei, Sector 5, Bucharest 050096, Romania. mircea.leabu@ivb.ro. Expression of concern in Removal of Expression of Concern: Segneanu et al. Helleborus purpurascens-Amino Acid and Peptide Analysis Linked to the Chemical and Antiproliferative Properties of the Extracted Compounds. Molecules 2015, 20, 22170-22187. [Molecules. 2018] Abstract There is a strong drive worldwide to discover and exploit the therapeutic potential of a large variety of plants. In this work, an alcoholic extract of Helleborus purpurascens (family Ranunculaceae) was investigated for the identification of amino acids and peptides with putative antiproliferative effects. In our work, a separation strategy was developed using solvents of different polarity in order to obtain active compounds. Biochemical components were characterized through spectroscopic (mass spectroscopy) and chromatographic techniques (RP-HPLC and GC-MS). The biological activity of the obtained fractions was investigated in terms of their antiproliferative effects on HeLa cells. Through this study, we report an efficient separation of bioactive compounds (amino acids and peptides) from a plant extract dependent on solvent polarity, affording fractions with unaffected antiproliferative activities. Moreover, the two biologically tested fractions exerted a major antiproliferative effect, thereby suggesting potential anticancer therapeutic activity. KEYWORDS: antiproliferative activiy; chromatographic techniques; hellebore; mass spectroscopy; thionins PMID: 26690401 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201219819 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Removal of Expression of Concern: Segneanu et al. Helleborus purpurascens-Amino Acid and Peptide Analysis Linked to the Chemical and Antiproliferative Properties of the Extracted Compounds. Molecules 2015, 20, 22170-22187. Free full text Removal of Expression of Concern: Segneanu et al. Helleborus purpurascens-Amino Acid and Peptide Analysis Linked to the Chemical and Antiproliferative Properties of the Extracted Compounds. Molecules 2015, 20, 22170-22187.