title: Effects of phytoestrogen extracts isolated from pumpkin seeds on estradiol production and ER/PR expression in breast cancer and trophoblast tumor cells.
abstract: Phytoestrogens have a controversial effect on hormone-dependent tumours. Herein, we investigated the effect of the pumpkin seed extract (PSE) on estradiol production and estrogen receptor (ER)-α/ER-β/progesterone receptor (PR) status on MCF7, Jeg3, and BeWo cells. The PSE was prepared and analyzed by mass spectrometry. MCF7, Jeg3, and BeWo cells were incubated with various concentrations of PSE. Untreated cells served as controls. Supernatants were tested for estradiol production with an ELISA method. Furthermore, the effect of the PSE on ER-α/ER-β/PR expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry. The PSE was found to contain both lignans and flavones. Estradiol production was elevated in MCF7, BeWo, and Jeg3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In MCF7 cells, a significant ER-α downregulation and a significant PR upregulation were observed. The above results after properly designed animal studies could highlight a potential role of pumpkin seed's lignans in breast cancer prevention and/or treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abarzua
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrobak
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vrekoussis
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weissenbacher
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Markus S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kupka
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friese
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briese
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piechulla
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makrigiannakis
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
authors.forename: Darius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dian
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000737:chemistry; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D047309:Flavones / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D047309:Flavones; D017705:Lignans; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C043562:flavone