Didymin

Didymin is a flavonoid that has been found in citrus fruits with diverse biological activities. It reduces hydrogen peroxide-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death and increases superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activity in SH-SY5Y cells differentiated into a neuronal phenotype. Didymin reduces survival of A549 and H460 lung cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner via induction of cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and Fas-mediated apoptosis. In vivo, didymin (6 mg/kg) inhibits tumor growth in an A549 mouse xenograft model. It also reduces hepatic collagen deposition, the number of hepatic lesions, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and TNF-α in a rat model of CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis.