kaempferide and Colonic-Neoplasms

The effects of phytoestrogens have been studied in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and in various non-gonadal targets. Epidemiologic and experimental evidence indicates a protective effect of phytoestrogens also in colorectal cancer. The mechanism through which estrogenic molecules control colorectal cancer tumorigenesis could possibly involve estrogen receptor beta, the predominantly expressed estrogen receptor subtype in colon mucosa.To validate this hypothesis, we therefore used an engineered human colon cancer cell line induced to overexpress estrogen receptor beta, beside its native cell line, expressing very low levels of ERbeta and not expressing ERalpha; as a phytoestrogenic molecule, we used kaempferide triglycoside, a glycosylated flavonol from a Dianthus caryophyllus cultivar. The inhibitory properties of this molecule toward vegetal cell growth have been previously demonstrated: however, no data on its activity on animal cell or information about the mechanism of this activity are available. Kaempferide triglycoside proved to inhibit the proliferation of native and estrogen receptor beta overexpressing colon cancer cells through a mechanism not mediated by ligand binding dependent estrogen receptor activation. It affected HCT8 cell cycle progression by increasing the G(0)/G(1) cell fraction and in estrogen receptor beta overexpressing cells increased two antioxidant enzymes. Interestingly, the biological effects of this kaempferide triglycoside were strengthened by the presence of high levels of estrogen receptor beta.Pleiotropic molecular effects of phytoestrogens may explain their protective activity against colorectal cancer and may represent an interesting area for future investigation with potential clinical applications.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antioxidants; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Dianthus; Estrogen Receptor beta; G1 Phase; Glycosides; Humans; Kaempferols; Phytotherapy; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle

A library of 42 natural and synthetic flavonoids has been screened for their effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in a human colonic cell line (HT-29). Examples of different classes of flavonoids have been screened, and the effects of hydroxylation, methoxylation and/or C-alkylation at various positions in the A- and B-rings have been assessed. Flavones and flavonols possess greater antiproliferative activity than chalcones and flavanones. With respect to structural modification of flavonoids, C-isoprenylation was by far the most effective, with substitution at the 8-position and longer chains, such as geranyl giving the best results. Finally, most compounds that significantly reduced cell survival also increased caspase activity, suggesting that at least part of their antiproliferative activity might be attributable to an apoptotic response.

Topics: Alkylation; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Chalcone; Colonic Neoplasms; Enzyme Activators; Flavones; Flavonoids; Humans; Hydroxylation; Structure-Activity Relationship