Immunologic and biochemical effects of the fermented wheat germ extract Avemar.
Avemar (MSC) is a nontoxic fermented wheat germ extract demonstrated to have antitumor effects. Avemar has the potential to significantly improve the survival rate in patients suffering from malignant colon tumors. We studied its effects in the HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line. Avemar had an inhibiting effect on colonies of HT-29 cells with an IC50 value of 118 microg/ml (7 days of incubation); this value could be decreased to 100 and 75 microg/ml in the presence of vitamin C. In the cell line examined, Avemar induced both necrosis and apoptosis, as demonstrated by Hoechst/propidium iodide staining. The incubation of cells with 3200 microg/ml Avemar for 24 hrs caused necrosis in 28% and the induction of apoptosis in 22% of the cells. Avemar inhibited the cell-cycle progression of HT-29 cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In addition, Avemar inhibited the activity of the key enzyme of de novo DNA synthesis, ribonucleotide reductase. In addition, we determined the effects of Avemar on the activity of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2. Both enzymes were significantly inhibited by Avemar with IC50 values of 100 and 300 microg/ml, respectively. We outline new explanations for its antitumor activity, which might serve as the basis for further studies using Avemar.
Illmer
Christoph
C
Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Madlener
Sibylle
S
Horvath
Zsuzsanna
Z
Saiko
Philipp
P
Losert
Annemarie
A
Herbacek
Irene
I
Grusch
Michael
M
Krupitza
Georg
G
Fritzer-Szekeres
Monika
M
Szekeres
Thomas
T
D017209:Apoptosis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D016193:G1 Phase; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009336:Necrosis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011419:Propidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D012264:Ribonucleotide Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000378:metabolism
C113915:Avemar; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011419:Propidium; D004247:DNA; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D012264:Ribonucleotide Reductases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid