Effect of polymeric caffeic acid on antitumour activity and natural killer cell activity in mice

Species difference in reactivity to lignin-like enzymatically polymerized polyphenols on interferon-γ synthesis and involvement of interleukin-2 production in mice

“…These cells play important roles in infectious disease and in the exclusion of cancer cells [19][20][21]. Moreover, we have previously demonstrated that polymerized caffeic acid administered orally can activate NK cells and inhibit tumor cell growth [8]. NK cell activation induced by food-based molecules, such as beta-glucan, is mediated by IFN-γ and is strongly dominated by IL-12 [22,23].…”

“…These low-molecular weight polyphenols have been considered as anti-inflammatory substances and used as alternative medicines for the symptomatic therapy of inflammatory diseases [6,7]. Our previous study has demonstrated that orally administered polymers, but not monomers, of phenylpropanoids exhibited immunoenhancing activities such as natural killer (NK) cell activation in C3H/HeN mice [8], and induced cytokine production in vitro in C57BL/6 mice [9]. These polymerized phenolic compounds exist in plant cell walls and are easily synthesized by several enzymes such as peroxidases, laccases, and polyphenol oxidases in fresh foods [10][11][12].…”

Inhibitory effect ofErythronium japonicumon the human breast cancer cell metastasis

“…We determined caffeic acid using an HPLC analysis of ethanol extract (data not shown) and this phenolic compound might contribute to the inhibition of tumor cell growth. Caffeic acid and polymeric caffeic acids have been shown to suppress the proliferation of various types of cancer cells and induce apoptotic pathways [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. We also observed the proapoptotic effect of Erythronium japonicum extracts ( Fig.…”

Solubilized melanin suppresses macrophage function

“…After heating, the mixture was extensively dialyzed (molecular mass cut‐off: 50 000 Da) against deionized water for 2 days. Subsequently, the reaction solution was quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu method (LD conversion) as described in a previous study . The samples were dissolved in endotoxin‐free water (1 mg·mL −1 ).…”