Małgorzata Zielińska-Przyjemska

The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and its mechanism of five synthetic methoxy stilbenes, namely 3,4,4ʹ-trimethoxy, 3,4,2ʹ-trimethoxy, 3,4,2ʹ,4ʹ-tetramethoxy, 3,4,2ʹ,6ʹ-tetramethoxy, and 3,4,2ʹ,4ʹ,6ʹ-pentamethoxy-trans-stilbenes (MS), in comparison with resveratrol (RSV). Human promyelocytic (HL-60) and monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were treated with the tested compounds for 24 h, and cytotoxicity, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were evaluated. Significant differences were found in the susceptibility of these cell lines to all stilbenes, including RSV. The THP-1 cells were more resistant to cytotoxic activity of these compounds than HL-60 cells. Among the tested stilbenes, 3,4,4ʹ-tri-MS and 3,4,2ʹ,4ʹ-tetra-MS exhibited higher cytotoxicity toward both cell lines than RSV and the other methoxy stilbenes. This activity might be related to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and induction of apoptosis. In this regard, 3,4,4ʹ-tri-MS and 3,4,2ʹ,4ʹ-tetra-MS at highest concentrations increased the p53 protein level particularly in HL-60 cells. Moreover, treatment with these derivatives increased the ratio of the proapoptotic Bax protein to the antiapoptotic Bcl-xl protein, suggesting the induction of apoptosis through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in both cell lines. Further studies are required to fully elucidate the mechanism of these activities.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of a series of seven 4′-methylthio-trans-stilbene derivatives against cancer cells: MCF7 and A431 in comparison with non-tumorigenic MCF12A and HaCaT cells. The mechanism of anti-proliferative activity of the most cytotoxic trans-resveratrol analogs: 3,4,5-trimethoxy-4′-methylthio-trans-stilbene (3,4,5-MTS) and 2,4,5-trimethoxy-4′-methylthio-trans-stilbene (2,4,5-MTS) was analyzed and compared with the effect of trans-resveratrol. All the compounds that were studied exerted a stronger cytotoxic effect than trans-resveratrol did. MCF7 cells were the most sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of trans-resveratrol analogs with IC₅₀ in the range of 2.1–6.0 µM. Comparing the cytotoxicity of 3,4,5-MTS and 2,4,5-MTS, a significantly higher cytotoxic activity of these compounds against MCF7 versus MCF12A was observed, whereas no significant difference was observed in cytotoxicity against A431 and HaCaT. In the series of 4′-methylthio-trans-stilbenes, 3,4,5-MTS and 2,4,5-MTS were the most promising compounds for further mechanistic studies. The proapoptotic activity of 3,4,5-MTS and 2,4,5-MTS, estimated with the use of annexin-V/propidium iodide assay, was comparable to that of trans-resveratrol. An analysis of cell cycle distribution showed a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and G2/M phase arrest in MCF7 and A431 as a result of treatment with 3,4,5-MTS, whereas trans-resveratrol tended to increase the percentage of cells in S phase, particularly in epithelial breast cells MCF12A and MCF7. Both trans-stilbene derivatives enhanced potently tubulin polymerization in a dose-dependent manner with sulfur atom participating in the interactions with critical residues of the paclitaxel binding site of β-tubulin.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and continuing colonic inflammation is considered an important risk factor in the development of colorectal cancer. Our previous studies showed that beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) products and their major component betanin modulate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) stimulated human polymorphonuclear neutrophils of healthy volunteers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of betanin on the oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in neutrophils isolated from blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease--ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The results were compared with those obtained in colon carcinoma-derived Caco-2 cells. Betanin treatment at the concentration of 100 μM for 24 h increased DNA damage assessed by comet assay in IBD patients' neutrophils. A similar effect although less pronounced was observed in Caco-2 cells. Treatment of Caco-2 cells with H2O2 caused a 4-fold increase of DNA strand breaks in comparison to untreated cells, but pre-treatment with betanin reduced DNA damage in these cells. Betanin also induced procaspase-3 cleavage and caspase-3 activity accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, indicating its pro-apoptotic activity. These results suggest that betanin may support mechanisms that lead to the release of ROS and apoptotic cell death. In this way betanin may exert anti-inflammatory and potentially cancer preventive activity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of betanin, one of the beetroot major components, on ROS production, DNA damage and apoptosis in human resting and stimulated with phorbol 12‐myristate13‐acetate polymorphonuclear neutrophils, one of the key elements of the inflammatory response.Incubation of neutrophils with betanin in the concentration range 2–500 µm resulted in significant inhibition of ROS production (by 15–46%, depending on the ROS detection assay). The antioxidant capacity of betanin was most prominently expressed in the chemiluminescence measurements. This compound decreased also the percentage of DNA in comet tails in stimulated neutrophils, but only at the 24 h time point. In resting neutrophils an increased level of DNA in comet tails was observed. Betanin did not affect the activity of caspase‐3, in resting neutrophils, but significantly enhanced the enzyme activity in stimulated neutrophils. The western blot analysis showed, however, an increased level of caspase‐3 cleavage products as a result of betanin treatment both in resting and stimulated neutrophils. The results indicate that betanin may be responsible for the effect of beetroot products on neutrophil oxidative metabolism and its consequences, DNA damage and apoptosis. The dose and time dependent effects on these processes require further studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the development of obesity. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) is a food ingredient containing betalain pigments that show antioxidant activity. The in vitro effect of beetroot juice and chips on oxidative metabolism and apoptosis in neutrophils from obese individuals has been investigated. Fifteen obese women (aged 45 ± 9 years, BMI >30 kg/m²) and nine healthy controls (women, aged 29 ± 11 years, BMI = 22.2 ± 1.6 kg/m²) were examined. The investigated products were used as concentrates and after transport and digestion in an artificial gastrointestinal tract. Neutrophil oxidant production, in response to phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate, was characterized by luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence and a flow cytometric dichlorofluorescin oxidation assay. Caspase‐3 activity, a marker of apoptosis, was measured by cleavage of the fluorogenic substrate Ac‐DEVD‐AMC. Neutrophils from obese individuals had a significantly higher ROS production compared with the controls (p < 0.05). Beetroot products inhibited neutrophil oxidative metabolism in a concentration‐dependent manner. Also observed were the pro‐apoptotic effects of beetroot at a concentration range of 0.1–10% in 24 h culture of stimulated neutrophils. These natural products (in both the liquid and solid state) have antioxidant and antiinflammatory capacity, and could be an important adjunct in the treatment of obesity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Citrus flavonoids are dietary antioxidants that may protect against oxidative stress linked to inflammation and reduce the risk of macromolecule damage caused by free radicals. Three citrus flavonoids – naringin, naringenin and hesperidin – have been examined for their ability to activate caspase‐3, a marker of apoptosis execution, in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils in vitro, stimulated and non‐stimulated with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate. The flavonoid potency to reduce reactive oxygen species generation was also assessed in measurements of superoxide radical and luminol dependent chemiluminescence. The caspase‐3 activity depended on the time of flavonoid treatment and was increased markedly in phorbol‐treated cells incubated with flavonoids for 24 h. Hesperidin at a concentration of 100 µm exerted the strongest stimulating effect on the enzyme (137% of control). Flavonoids inhibited the neutrophil ability to generate superoxide radical and 10–100 µm hesperidin appeared the most active phytochemical. The antioxidant capacity of the examined flavonoids was most prominently expressed in the chemiluminescent measurements. The obtained results suggest that reactive oxygen species may inhibit apoptosis via caspase‐3 inhibition and the antioxidant action of citrus flavonoids may reverse this process. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.