flavan-3-ol and Breast-Neoplasms

Croton celtidifolius Baill (Euphorbiaceae) is a tree found in the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil, where it is commonly known as "Sangue-de-Dragão". Its red latex is used traditionally for treating ulcers, diabetes and cancer.. To evaluate antitumor activities of Croton celtififolius latex in vitro and in vivo.. Phytochemical analyses were conducted using HPLC-DAD-MS. Cytotoxic, nuclease and pro-apoptotic properties were determined using the tetrazolium salt assay (MTT), plasmid DNA damage assay and ethidium bromide (EB)/acridine orange methods, respectively, and antitumor activity was determined in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) mouse model.. Phytochemical studies indicated a high phenol content of flavonols (45.67 ± 0.24 and 18.01 ± 0.23 mg/mL of myricetin and quercetin, respectively) and flavan-3-ols (114.12 ± 1.84 and 1527.41 ± 16.42 mg/L of epicatechin and epigallocatechin, respectively) in latex. These compounds reduced MCF-7 and EAC cell viability in the MTT assay (IC50 = 169.0 ± 1.8 and 187.0 ± 2.2 μg/mL, respectively). Latex compounds caused significant DNA fragmentation and increased the number of apoptotic cells (negative control (NC), 12%; latex, 41%) as indicated by differential staining in the EB/acridine orange assay. The in vivo latex treatment at 3.12 mg/kg/day reduced the body weight by 7.57 ± 2.04 g and increased median survival time to 17.5 days when compared to the NC group (13.0 days). In addition, the highest latex concentration inhibited tumor growth by 56%.. These results agree with ethno-pharmacological reports showing cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of C. celtidifolius latex. The mechanism of antitumor action may be related to direct DNA fragmentation that reduces survival and induces apoptosis.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Brazil; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor; Cell Survival; Croton; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Flavonoids; Flavonols; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Latex; Male; MCF-7 Cells; Medicine, Traditional; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Plant Extracts; Time Factors

Hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer are the most prevalent cancers in the world with high morbidity and mortality. Although there are effective drugs for treating advanced stages of liver and breast cancers, the prognosis for patients with liver cancer remains poor, and patients with breast cancer show considerable mortality. Therefore, it is crucial to explore new therapeutic agents for the inhibition of carcinogenesis. This study examined the anti-carcinogenic effect of Vitis labrusca seed extract (VLE), which is a component of winery waste, on liver (HepG2) and breast cancers (MCF-7) cells. The results found in this study demonstrated VLEinduced DNA damage in liver and breast cancer cells. VLE treatment in both cell lines was accompanied by high NO production and upregulation of p53. A significant decrease in total PARP expression was also found in HepG2 cells. In the MCF-7 cell line, VLE treatment increased the expression of Bax and AIF, and decreased total PARP expression. Surprisingly, VLE suppressed Her-2 expression in HepG2 cells and caused a subtle, but significant downregulation of Her-2 in MCF-7 cells. The possible anti-carcinogenic effect of VLE reported in this study suggests the potential of this extract to be used for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of different kinds of cancers.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Proliferation; DNA Damage; Female; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; MCF-7 Cells; Receptor, ErbB-2; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Vitis

Flavonoids, which are found in certain plant foods, are thought to lower cancer risk through their antioxidant, antiestrogenic and antiproliferative properties. We examined the association of intake of total flavonoids and 7 flavonoid subclasses with risk of lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic and upper aerodigestive cancer among women in a large prospective cohort study. Study participants were 34,708 postmenopausal women in the Iowa Women's Health Study who completed a food frequency questionnaire and were followed for cancer occurrence from 1986 through 2004. Flavonoid intake was estimated from 3 databases developed by the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL). Hazard ratios (HR) for cancer risk were calculated across total flavonoid and flavonoid subclass intake categories. Interactions between smoking history and flavonoid intake were also examined. After multivariable adjustment, lung cancer incidence was inversely associated with intakes of flavanones (HR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.53-0.86, all results highest vs. lowest quintile) and proanthocyanidins (HR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.57-0.97). Among current and past smokers, those with intakes in the highest quintile for flavanones (HR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.50-0.86), and proanthocyanidins (HR = 0.66; 95% CI; 0.49-0.89) had significantly lower lung cancer incidence than those in the lowest quintile. Similar associations were not seen in never smokers. Isoflavone intake was inversely associated with overall cancer incidence (HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86-1.00). This study provides further support for a beneficial effect of flavonoid intake on lung cancer risk, especially among current and past smokers.

Topics: Aged; Anthocyanins; Breast Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Feeding Behavior; Female; Flavanones; Flavones; Flavonoids; Flavonols; Humans; Iowa; Isoflavones; Lung Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Odds Ratio; Postmenopause; Proanthocyanidins; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires