Quercetin exerts a preferential cytotoxic effect on active dividing colon carcinoma HT29 and Caco-2 cells.
The effect of the naturally occurring flavonol, quercetin, was investigated on cell growth and metabolism of two human carcinoma cell lines, HT29 and Caco-2 cells, both during the exponentially growing phase and after confluence. Our results show clearly that, after a 48-h period of treatment, quercetin (in the range of concentration from 15 microM to 120 microM) exerted a preferential cytotoxic effect on active proliferating cells. This effect was dose dependent and was accompanied by a simultaneous inhibition of lactate release and a dramatic decrease of total cellular ATP content. In contrast, in confluent cells, quercetin failed to affect cell viability or lactate release, but led nevertheless to a depletion of cellular ATP level. In conclusion, the cytotoxicity of quercetin is markedly higher in actively growing cells in comparison with confluent cells.
Agullo
G
G
Laboratoire des Maladies Métaboliques, INRA Theix, Ceyrat, France.
Gamet
L
L
Besson
C
C
Demigné
C
C
Rémésy
C
C
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007773:Lactates; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011794:Quercetin