title: Resveratrol oligomers isolated from Carex species inhibit growth of human colon tumorigenic cells mediated by cell cycle arrest.
abstract: Research has shown that members of the Carex genus produce biologically active stilbenoids including resveratrol oligomers. This is of great interest to the nutraceutical industry given that resveratrol, a constituent of grape and red wine, has attracted immense research attention due to its potential human health benefits. In the current study, five resveratrol oligomers (isolated from Carex folliculata and Carex gynandra ), along with resveratrol, were evaluated for antiproliferative effects against human colon cancer (HCT-116, HT-29, Caco-2) and normal human colon (CCD-18Co) cells. The resveratrol oligomers included one dimer, two trimers, and two tetramers: pallidol (1); α-viniferin (2) and trans-miyabenol C (3); and kobophenols A (4) and B (5), respectively. Although not cytotoxic, the resveratrol oligomers (1-5), as well as resveratrol, inhibited growth of the human colon cancer cells. Among the six stilbenoids, α-viniferin (2) was most active against the colon cancer cells with IC(50) values of 6-32 μM (>2-fold compared to normal colon cells). Moreover, α-viniferin (at 20 μM) did not induce apoptosis but arrested cell cycle (in the S-phase) for the colon cancer but not the normal colon cells. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge supporting the anticancer effects of resveratrol and its oligomers. Furthermore, Carex species should be investigated for their nutraceutical potential given that they produce biologically active stilbenoids such as α-viniferin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Sarrías
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gromek
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niesen
authors.forename: Navindra P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Seeram
authors.forename: Geneive E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D031255:Carex Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol