Selective anti-cancer effects of palm phytonutrients on human breast cancer cells

Abstract

Palm oil contains a number of phytonutrients. To date, most of the studies using palm phytonutrients have focused on palm vitamin E. The objective of this study was to compare the anti-cancer activities of four major palm phytonutrients, namely tocotrienol-rich fraction, carotenoids, squalene and co-enzyme Q10 using some cell-based assays. Two human breast cancer cell lines, the highly aggressive triple-negative MDA-MB-231 and the estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells, were treated with these palm phytonutrients to determine their anti-cancer effects. Palm vitamin E exhibited higher ability to induce cell death by apoptosis in both human breast cancer cells compared to the other palm phytonutrients (carotenoids, squalene and co-enzyme Q10), which was absent in normal NIH/3T3 cells. In addition, there was higher cleavage of the poly-adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) enzyme in palm vitamin Etreated MDA-MB-231 cells compared to the other phytonutrients. All the tested palm phytonutrients suppressed the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-kB) protein in the breast cancer cells exposed briefly to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). Palm phytonutrients possess varying extent of anti-cancer effects on the human breast cancer cells.

Comparison of free amino acids, antioxidants, soluble phenolic acids, cytotoxicity and immunomodulation of fermented mung bean and soybean

“…Although numerous efforts have been made to decrease the mortality rate of breast cancer, to date, no ultimate chemotherapeutic drug is available to overcome this disease. 42,43 The results showed that aqueous extracts of FMB and FSB were able to induce cytotoxicity effects on breast cancer cells MCF-7 but not on normal breast cells MCF-10A. In addition, they exhibited the most prominent cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells at IC 50 values of 2.3 mg mL −1 and 3.6 mg mL −1 , respectively, accompanied by the anti-proliferative effects.…”

“…Among the various types of cancer, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed and the most common cancer that affects Malaysian women from all ethnicities. Although numerous efforts have been made to decrease the mortality rate of breast cancer, to date, no ultimate chemotherapeutic drug is available to overcome this disease . The results showed that aqueous extracts of FMB and FSB were able to induce cytotoxicity effects on breast cancer cells MCF‐7 but not on normal breast cells MCF‐10A.…”

Chemical Constituents of Kosteletzkya batacensis (Blanco) Fern.-Vill.

“…β-Sitosteryl-3β-glucopyranoside-6′-O-palmitate (1) was exhibited cytotoxicity against Bowes (melanoma), MCF7 (breast) cancer cell lines [9] and human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) [3] and showed potent anti-complement activity [10]. Squalene (3) possessed chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis [11], showed cardioprotective [12] and anti-proliferative effects on breast cancer cells [13] and exhibited preventive and therapeutic potential on tumor promotion and regression [14]. A recent review on the bioactivities of squalene has been provided [15].…”

Cytotoxic Compounds from Kibatalia gitingensis (Elm.) Woodson

“…30 It also reduced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation and crypt multiplicity in laboratory rats, indicating potential chemopreventive activities against colon carcinogenesis. 31 In a study evaluating the anti-proliferative effects of squalene and other compounds from palm oil against two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, it was found that there was a suppression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-κB) in breast cancer cells exposed briefly to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), 32,33 hence affecting the mechanisms of apoptosis and carcinogenesis. The protective and therapeutic effects of squalene-containing compounds on skin tumor cells in laboratory mice have been reported as well.…”