Procyanidin-rich extract of natural cocoa powder causes ROS-mediated caspase-3 dependent apoptosis and reduction of pro-MMP-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Assessment of the cytotoxic potential of an aqueous-ethanolic extract from Thalassia testudinum angiosperm marine grown in the Caribbean Sea

“…These findings suggested the contribution of other components from the extract to the described cytotoxic effects, in particular, proanthocyanidins which are the major polyphenol specie (21%) ( Table 1) and it has been reported to exhibit antitumour properties. [26][27][28] This study also revealed that the human hepatoma HepG2 cell line was the most sensitive to the treatment with the extract ( Table 2). The viability of HepG2 cells was reduced significantly in response to increasing concentrations of T. testudinum extract, while rat and human hepatocytes were unaffected by the treatment with the product (Figure 1).…”

“…TB contribution to the extract is 5.8% (Table ); therefore, 50 μg/ml is about the bioavailable concentration of TB for 1000 μg/ml of the extract. These findings suggested the contribution of other components from the extract to the described cytotoxic effects, in particular, proanthocyanidins which are the major polyphenol specie (21%) (Table ) and it has been reported to exhibit antitumour properties …”

Flavonoids as Anticancer Agents

“…Furthermore, naringenin reduced ROS generation and enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione in chronic diseases and cancer [68]. Cocoa catechins and procyanidins have been shown to induce apoptotic morphological changes, DNA damage and apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells due to their prooxidant properties [69]. Cocoa polyphenolic extract activated the ERK1/2 pathway, thus increasing the activities of glutathione peroxidase and reductase in HepG2 cells [70].…”

Chocolate, “Food of the Gods”: History, Science, and Human Health

“…In the last years, the treatment of different ovarian cancer cell lines with various concentrations of cocoa procyanidin-rich extract, inducing cytotoxicity and chemosensitization, showed a significant percentage of cells in sub-G1/G0 (hypodiploid) phase, which increased with increasing concentration, and a significant accumulation of cells in the S phase was seen [62]. This effect is probably due to an increase in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [63]. In an animal study, a diet containing dark chocolate reduced the total number of aberrant crypt foci in the colon.…”