Objective: The present study was framed to assess the antileukemic activity of the methanol extract of Citrus limetta, Citrus sinensispulp extracts and naringenin.
Methods: The antileukemic activity of the citrus fruit pulp extracts and naringenin were determined by the MTT and SRB assay in Molt-3 leukemic cells and normal PBL. The apoptosis inducing ability of the extracts and naringenin were studied by Giemsa and AO/EtBr staining which was further confirmed by flow cytometric analysis (Annexin V/FITC and Jc-1 staining).
Results: The results demonstrated that both the citrus pulp extracts and naringenin were able to induce cell death in Molt-3 cells but were not toxic to normal PBL. The results confirmed that the citrus fruit pulp extracts and naringenin induced cell death via apoptosis.
Conclusion: The citrus fruit pulp extracts and naringenin were able to induce cell death in Molt-3 cells via intrinsic apoptotic pathway and also exhibited differential response against Molt-3 cells and PBL.