Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a natural and biologically active compound extracted from honey, plants and propolis. It possesses anti-inflammatory activity, anti-oxidant properties and promotes cell death by perturbing cell cycle progression. In this study, our attention focused on the possible role that chrysin may have as a potential anti-cancer agent, and we tested its biological activity in murine and human melanoma cell lines (B16-F1 and A375). This study demonstrated that chrysin reduced melanoma cell proliferation and induced cell differentiation in both human and murine melanoma cells through synthesis increase and intracellular accumulation of protoporphirin IX (PpIX). Furthermore, following treatments with chrysin an increase in the expression of porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) was noted. This study demontrated also that chrysin induces cell death in human and murine melanoma cells through caspase-dependent mechanisms, involving down-regulation of ERK 1/2, and activation of p38 MAP kinases. Induction of cell death may be a promising therapeutic approach in cancer therapy. Our results suggest that chrysin may be considered a potential candidate for both cancer prevention and treatment.

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