title: Blueberry anthocyanins and pyruvic acid adducts: anticancer properties in breast cancer cell lines.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer properties of an anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct extract, which is being developed aiming to be further applied in the food industry. An anthocyanin extract from blueberry (extract I) and an anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct extract (extract II) were tested on two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7). Proliferation was assessed by SRB assay and ³H-thymidine incorporation. Caspase-3 activity was determined in the presence of both extracts. Their capacity as chemoattractants and their invasive potential were also assayed. In both cell lines, extracts I and II significantly reduced cell proliferation at 250 μg/mL, after 24 h of cell incubation. Caspase-3 activity was not altered by the extracts (250 μg/mL) in either cell line, with the exception of extract II in MCF-7, which increased its activity, probably explaining its effects on cell proliferation. Both extracts (250 μg/mL) demonstrated significant antiinvasive potential in both cell lines. Furthermore, they did not demonstrate any capacity for chemotaxis. In conclusion, blueberry anthocyanins and the respective anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adducts demonstrated anticancer properties by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and by acting as cell antiinvasive factors and chemoinhibitors. The anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct extract showed a more pronounced effect in MDA-MB-231, suggesting an effect independent of estrogen receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. anafaria@med.up.pt
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pestana
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mateus
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calhau
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D029798:Blueberry Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3