title: Pectic-Oligoshaccharides from Apples Induce Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in MDA-MB-231 Cells, a Model of Human Breast Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of plant products on cancer cells has become a field of major importance. Many substancesmay induce apoptosis in anti-cancer treatment. Pectins, a family of complex polysaccharides, and their degradation products may for exasmple exert apoptotic effects in cancer cells. Apples and citrus fruits are the main sources of pectin which can be applied for anti-cancer research. The present study concerned an intact form of pectic-oligoshaccharide named pectic acid (poly galactronic acid).
  
  
  METHODS
  Inhibition of cell proliferation assays (MTT), light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy (acridin orange/ethidium bromide), DNA fragmentation tests, cell cycle analysis, annexin PI and Western blotting methods were applied to evaluate apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that pectic acid inhibited cell growth and reduced cell attachment after 24h incubation. This did not appear to be due to necrosis, since morphological features of apoptosis were detected with AO/EB staining and cell cycling was blocked in the sub-G1 phase. Annexin/PI and DNA fragmentation findings indicated that apoptosis frequency increased after 24h incubation with pectic acid. In addition, the data showed pectic acid induced caspase-dependent apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that apple pectic acid without any modification could trigger apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and has potential to improve cancer treatment as a natural product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran E-mail : hsepehri@khayam.ut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delphi
authors.forename: Houri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sepehri
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khorramizadeh
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mansoori
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010368:Pectins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010368:Pectins; C003181:polygalacturonic acid