title: Strawberry-Tree Honey Induces Growth Inhibition of Human Colon Cancer Cells and Increases ROS Generation: A Comparison with Manuka Honey.
abstract: Honey is a natural product known to modulate several biological activities including cancer. The aim of the present study was to examine the phytochemical content and the antioxidant activity of Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) honey (STH) and its cytotoxic properties against human colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-116) and metastatic (LoVo) cell lines in comparison with Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey (MH). Several unifloral STH and MH were analyzed for their phenolic, flavonoid, amino acid and protein contents, as well as their radical scavenging activities. STH from the Berchidda area showed the highest amount of phenolic, flavonoid, amino acid and protein content, and antioxidant capacity compared to MH. Both STH and MH induced cytotoxicity and cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HCT-116 and LoVo cells, with less toxicity on non-cancer cells. Compared to MH, STH showed more effect at lower concentrations on HCT-116 and LoVo cells. In addition, both honeys increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In HCT-116 cells, STH and MH induced similar ROS production but in LoVo cells STH induced a higher percentage of ROS compared to MH. Our results indicate that STH and MH can induce cell growth inhibition and ROS generation in colon adenocarcinoma and metastatic cells, which could be due to the presence of phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. These preliminary results are interesting and suggest a potential chemopreventive action which could be useful for further studies in order to develop chemopreventive agents for colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 65, Ancona 60131, Italy. dolla.bihs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afrin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 65, Ancona 60131, Italy. tamara.forbe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tamara Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Forbes-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 65, Ancona 60131, Italy. m.gasparrini@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gasparrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 65, Ancona 60131, Italy. s.bompadre@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bompadre
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, Armilla 18100, Spain. jlquiles@ugr.es.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Quiles
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, via Vienna 2, Sassari 07100, Italy. sanna@uniss.it.
authors.forename: Gavino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, via Vienna 2, Sassari 07100, Italy. nspano@uniss.it.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 65, Ancona 60131, Italy. f.giampieri@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giampieri
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition & Health, European University of the Atlantic, Santander 39011, Spain. m.a.battino@univpm.it.|Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 65, Ancona 60131, Italy. m.a.battino@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battino
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry; D031985:Fragaria; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D031649:Leptospermum; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D014197:Trees; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D064209:Phytochemicals; D059808:Polyphenols; D011506:Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Manuka honey; antioxidant activity; colon cancer; cytotoxicity; polyphenols; reactive oxygen species; strawberry tree honey