Antiproliferative activity of lignans against the breast carcinoma cell lines MCF 7 and BT 20.
OBJECTIVE
Phytoestrogens are plant-derived, non-steroidal phytochemicals with anticarcinogenic potential. The major structural classes are the isoflavones and lignans. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the plant-derived lignans secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol with the human lignans enterodiol and enterolactone as well as with 17β estradiol and tamoxifen on cell proliferation of breast carcinoma cell lines.


METHODS
The influence of the lignans, 17β estradiol and tamoxifen on cell proliferation was determined using the BrdU test in MCF 7 and BT 20 cell lines.


RESULTS
Enterodiol and enterolactone induced a stronger inhibition of cell growth in MCF 7 and BT 20 cells than secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol. The inhibition effects were less expressed in the BT 20 than in the MCF 7 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The human lignans enterodiol and enterolactone are more biologically active than their precursors secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol, and may be defined as the real drugs in cancer prevention.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany. sibylle.abarzua@uni-rostock.de
Sibylle
S
Abarzua
Tatsuo
T
Serikawa
Marlen
M
Szewczyk
Dagmar-Ulrike
DU
Richter
Birgit
B
Piechulla
Volker
V
Briese
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002072:Butylene Glycols; D004967:Estrogens; D005663:Furans; D017705:Lignans; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004958:Estradiol; C068935:matairesinol; C029498:2,3-bis(3'-hydroxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol; C060283:secoisolariciresinol; D015107:4-Butyrolactone; C029497:2,3-bis(3'-hydroxybenzyl)butyrolactone