Flavanols and procyanidins of cocoa and chocolate inhibit growth and polyamine biosynthesis of human colonic cancer cells

Cocoa Procyanidins Suppress Transformation by Inhibiting Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Kinase

“…1). Previous studies showed that cocoa polyphenols exert antiproliferative effects in different cell types (32,33). Our previous studies demonstrated that cocoa extracts protected against oxidative stress-induced inhibition of gap-junction intercellular communication (33) and TPA-induced COX-2 protein expression in mouse skin (34).…”

“…For MEK1, inactive ERK2 substrate peptide (1 g) was also included. A 4-l aliquot was removed from the reaction mixture, which contained 20 g of myelin basic protein substrate peptide and 10 l of diluted [␥- 32 P]ATP solution, and incubated at 30°C for 30 min. This mixture was incubated for an additional 10 min at 30°C, and then 25-l aliquots were transferred onto p81 filter paper and washed 3 times with 0.75% phosphoric acid for 5 min per wash followed with acetone once for 2 min.…”

Selective cytotoxicity of synthesized procyanidin 3-O-Galloylepicatechin-4b,8-3-O-galloylcatechin to human cancer cells

“…4 Cocoa derived flavanols and procyanidins have also been shown to possess potent antioxidant, antitumor properties and immunomodulatory functions in vitro. [5][6][7] The flavanols found in cocoa exist as both the monomeric flavanols (-)-epicatechin and to a much lesser extent (+)-catechin, and they are structurally related oligomers known as procyanidins. 8 Previous studies of cocoa flavanols and procyanidins showed 70% growth inhibition with a blockade of the cell cycle of Caco-2 cells at the G 2 /M phase.…”

“…8 Previous studies of cocoa flavanols and procyanidins showed 70% growth inhibition with a blockade of the cell cycle of Caco-2 cells at the G 2 /M phase. 5 Synthetic trimeric, tetrameric, pentameric and higher oligomeric epicatechin-derived procyanidins inhibited breast cancer cell growth and induced cell death possibly through non-apoptotic mechanisms. 9,10 Pentameric procyanidin has been shown to selectively inhibit growth of human breast cancer cells through regulation of site-specific phosphorylation of several cell cycle regulatory proteins including p53 and pRb.…”

Anticancer Agents from Non-Edible Parts of Theobroma cacao

“…Consumption of cocoa or dark chocolate can also decrease the burden and efficacy of epigenetic carcinogens [9]. Procyanidin-enriched cocoa seed extracts caused G2/M cell cycle arrest and 70% growth inhibition in Caco-2 colon cancer cells [10]. On the other hand, cocoa-derived pentameric procyanidin caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and selective growth inhibition in human breast cancer cells [11].…”