Positive Health Online

Abstract

BAUDELET and COLLEAGUES, (1)University of La Rochelle, UMRi CNRS 7266 LIENSs, F-17042, La Rochelle, France. lpicot@univ-lr.fr investigated glaucophyte [a small group of rare freshwater microscopic algae] Cyanophora paradoxa (Cp) to identify pigments efficiently inhibiting malignant melanoma, mammary carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells growth.

Background

Methodology

The glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa (Cp) was chemically investigated to identify pigments efficiently inhibiting malignant melanoma, mammary carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells growth.

Results

Cp water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited the growth of the three cancer cell lines in vitro, at 100 µg · mL(-1). Flash chromatography of the Cp ethanol extract, devoid of c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, enabled the collection of eight fractions, four of which strongly inhibited cancer cells growth at 100 µg · mL(-1). Particularly, two fractions inhibited more than 90% of the melanoma cells growth, one inducing apoptosis in the three cancer cells lines. The detailed analysis of Cp pigment composition resulted in the discrimination of 17 molecules, ten of which were unequivocally identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. Pheophorbide a, β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were the three main pigments or derivatives responsible for the strong cytotoxicity of Cp fractions in cancer cells.

Conclusion

These data point to Cyanophora paradoxa as a new micro-algal source to purify potent anticancer pigments, and demonstrate for the first time the strong antiproliferative activity of zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin in melanoma cells.

References

Baudelet PH(1), Gagez AL, Bérard JB, Juin C, Bridiau N, Kaas R, Thiéry V, Cadoret JP, Picot L. Antiproliferative activity of Cyanophora paradoxa pigments in melanoma, breast and lung cancer cells. Mar Drugs. 11(11):4390-406. doi: 10.3390/md11114390. Nov 1 2013.