Bergamot juice extract inhibits proliferation by inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2014;14(10):1402-13. doi: 10.2174/1871520614666140829120530.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the industrialized world, second to lung cancer. A lot of evidences highlight that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer including CRC. In this study we demonstrate that Citrus bergamia juice extracts (BJe) reduces CRC cell growth by multiple mechanisms. Low BJe concentrations inhibit MAPKs pathway and alter apoptosis-related proteins, that in turn induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HT-29 cells. Instead, high concentrations of BJe induce oxidative stress causing DNA damage. Our study highlights the role of BJe as modulator of cell apoptosis in CRC cells and strengthens our previous hypothesis that the flavonoid fraction of bergamot juice may play a role as anti-cancer drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • DNA Damage
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases