Apoptosis Comparison Effects Between Synthetic and Natural Β-Carotene from Dunaliella salina on MDA-MB-231Brest Cancer Cells

Abstract

Dunaliella salina is genus most important species for β-carotene production. Several investigations have demonstrated that D. salina produces more than 10% of its dry mass. β-carotene is an important pro-vitamin A source and can also act as a lipid radical scavenger and as a singlet oxygen quencher. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) has been related with cancer, for this reason synthetic and natural β-carotene has been used for prevention and treatment of the disease. Synthetic β-carotene is cheaper than natural molecule but only contains all-trans-β-carotene (ATβC), while 9-cis-β-carotene (9CβC) and ATβC are both produce by D. salina. Meta-analysis of controlled trials using high levels of synthetic β-carotene supplementation in smoker's individuals, mention that instead to prevent and control lung cancer, treatment increases risk and percentage of positive cases. Results obtained in cancer cell lines and animal models using β-carotene from Dunaliella, prevented and controlled diseases proliferation. In this work, effects of synthetic and natural β-carotene from D. salina were evaluated on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, and even when apoptosis induction results were obtained with both sources, natural β-carotene generates considerable higher cell rates mortality.