title: Inhibition of neoplastic transformation of benzo[alpha]pyrene-treated BALB/c 3T3 murine cells by a phytochemical extract of passionfruit juice.
abstract: The phytochemical composition of passionfruit juice (PFJ) was hypothesized to have valuable anti-cancer activity, and this was tested in a BALB/c 3T3 neoplastic transformation model. A higher concentration of PFJ compared with a lower concentration was effective in reducing the number, size, and invasiveness of transformed foci. When incubated with another mammalian cell line, the MOLT-4, PFJ was unable to alter the cell cycle kinetics while at the same time was successful in inducing the activity of caspase-3, an enzyme that commits the cell to apoptosis. This suggests that phytochemicals found in PFJ were able to produce the changes in transformed foci due to apoptotic mechanisms rather than by a reduction in cell proliferation. These beneficial results were achieved at levels that could theoretically be attained in the plasma after consumption of the juice.
authors.affiliation: Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Meri P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nantz
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deniera
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Talcott
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Percival
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029598:Passiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases