Perezone and its isomer isoperezone induce caspase-dependent and caspase-independent cell death.

In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of perezone, a constituent isolated from the roots of Perezia spp. and of its synthetic isomer isoperezone on the K562 human leukemia cell line. Perezone showed greater cytotoxic effect than isoperezone but both compounds were found to induce cytotoxicity trough a caspase-dependent and a caspase-independent mechanisms; important changes in their light scattering properties, phosphatidylserine translocation and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption were detected by cytometry. The mechanism of death induction of each compound showed interesting concentration-dependent differences. Neither compound induced the apoptosis inducing factor.