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.
Laboratoire des Maladies Métaboliques, INRA Theix, Ceyrat, France.
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Agullo
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Gamet
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Besson
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Demigné
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Rémésy
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