title: Dietary spices protect against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage and inhibit nicotine-induced cancer cell migration.
abstract: Spices are rich sources of antioxidants due to the presence of phenols and flavonoids. In this study, the DNA protecting activity and inhibition of nicotine-induced cancer cell migration of 9 spices were analysed. Murine fibroblasts (3T3-L1) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells were pre-treated with spice extracts and then exposed to H₂O₂ and nicotine. The comet assay was used to analyse the DNA damage. Among the 9 spices, ginger, at 50 μg/ml protected against 68% of DNA damage in 3T3-L1 cells. Caraway, cumin and fennel showed statistically significant (p<0.05) DNA protecting activity. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with nicotine induced cell migration, whereas pre-treatment with spices reduced this migration. Pepper, long pepper and ginger exhibited a high rate of inhibition of cell migration. The results of this study prove that spices protect DNA and inhibit cancer cell migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayakumar
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kanthimathi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017365:Spices / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009538:Nicotine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide