Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Effects of Chetomin in Human Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis in advanced stages, and current therapeutic options provide only limited benefits, highlighting the need for novel treatments. Chetomin, a fungal metabolite isolated from <i>Chaetomium cochliodes</i>, has been reported to exhibit diverse biological activities, yet its effects on melanoma cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor potential of chetomin using the human A375 melanoma cell line. Cell viability was assessed with MTT and CellTiter-Glo^® assays, which revealed a significant dose- and time-dependent reduction in proliferation following chetomin exposure. Apoptotic effects were confirmed through Annexin V staining, and immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in cleaved PARP1, indicating activation of programmed cell death pathways. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that chetomin effectively inhibits melanoma cell growth and promotes apoptosis. The results suggest that chetomin represents a promising lead compound for melanoma therapy, warranting further investigation into its precise molecular mechanisms.