title: In vitro anticancer activity of cyanidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside: effects on transformed and non-transformed T lymphocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known regarding the potentially chemopreventive activity of cyanidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (Cy-g), the main anthocyanin present in the juice of pigmented oranges, apart from its antioxidant activity. After excluding a potential genotoxicity of Cy-g, its ability to induce apoptosis on transformed and normal T cells was analysed. In order to delineate the events leading to apoptosis, the expression of different proteins, known to be involved in apoptosis, was also measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evaluation of genotoxicity was performed by the micronucleus test. Flow cytometry was used for the analysis of apoptotic cells and proteins involved in the modulation of apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cy-g was nongenotoxic. Moreover, it induced apoptosis in both cell systems, modulated by an increase of p53 and bax proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These interesting biological properties should encourage further studies into the chemopreventive potential of Cy-g. Nevertheless, its activity in normal T cells underlines the need for extensive toxicological investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 48 - 40126 Bologna, Italy. carmela.fimognari@unibo.it
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fimognari
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nüsse
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantelli-Fortii
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hrelia
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; D005960:Glucosides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C462279:cyanidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside