Chemopreventive effects of minor dietary constituents in common foods on human cancer cells.
Epidemiological evidence has suggested that vegetables and fruits may have a role in cancer prevention. The aim of the present study was to examine the anti-proliferative activity of ten related pure compounds from common vegetables and fruits. Studies were conducted on a series of carcinoma cells derived from eight human organs. The results show that linalool possessed the strongest activity against nine carcinoma cells, and that baicalein and luteolin also exhibited a broad spectrum of anti-proliferative activities. Among them, linalool showed the strongest activity against carcinoma of the cervix (IC50: 0.37 microg/ml), stomach (IC50: 14.1 microg/ml), skin (IC50: 14.9 microg/ml), lung (IC50: 21.5 microg/ml) and bone (IC50: 21.7 microg/ml). As for the flavonoids, luteolin exhibited the strongest activity against carcinoma of the stomach (IC50: 7.1 microg/ml), cervix (IC50: 7.7 microg/ml), lung (IC50: 11.7 microg/ml) and bladder (IC50: 19.5 microg/ml), whereas baicalein possessed the strongest anti-proliferative activity against carcinoma of the cervix (IC50: 9.8 microg/ml), stomach (IC50: 16.1 microg/ml) and skin (IC50: 19.5 microg/ml). The present study indicates that linalool possessed the strongest activity against a broad spectrum of carcinoma cells, especially cervical carcinoma cells, suggesting that linalool and flavonoids are partially responsible for the cancer prevention of common vegetables and fruits.
Cherng
Jaw-Ming
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Peikang Hospital/China Medical University, Taiwan, R. O. C.
Shieh
Den-En
DE
Chiang
Wen
W
Chang
Mei-Yin
MY
Chiang
Lien-Chai
LC
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018890:Chemoprevention; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D047311:Luteolin / Q000494:pharmacology; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D044950:Flavanones; D005419:Flavonoids; D039821:Monoterpenes; C006680:baicalein; C018584:linalool; D047311:Luteolin