title: IN-VITRO evidence for the protective properties of the main components of the Mediterranean diet against colorectal cancer: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) vary over 10-fold worldwide where within Westernized societies lower rates are observed amongst populations living within the Mediterranean basin, suggesting a significant influence of environment and dietary style in CRC carcinogenesis. Interpretation of the data concerning the benefits of mediterranean (MD) diet is difficult in vivo because of the variability of alimentary regimens used, the differing compliance with dietary supplementation and because of the non-uniform duration of patient cohort observation. Therefore, the aim of this review is to evaluate the in-vitro effects on colorectal cancer cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  the literature concerning the in-vitro effects of 4 of the principal components symbolizing the MD such as olive oil (polyphenol), red chili (capsaicin), tomato (lycopene) and red grapes (resveratrol) have been systematically reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several studies have demonstrated that polyphenols form olive oil, lycopene, resveratrol and capsaicin have multiple anticancer properties affecting several metabolic pathways involved in cancerogenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis in CRC cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review summarizes some of the most recent data potentially supportive of the use of MD in CRC chemoprevention, analyzing the in vitro effects of individual components of the MD on CRC cell development, progression, metastasis and apoptosis.
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy. Electronic address: mariateresa.rotelli@uniba.it.
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Rotelli
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Bocale
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: De Fazio
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ancona
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Scalera
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Memeo
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Travaglio
authors: Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Centre for Bioengineering and Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Zbar
authors: DETO Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
authors: D F
authors: DF
authors: Altomare
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011379:Prognosis; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents
keywords: Capsaicin; Colorectal cancer; Lycopene; Mediterranean diet; Olive oil polyphenols; Resveratrol