Positive Health Online

Abstract

RWIGEMERA and COLLEAGUES, 1. Biology Department, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada; 2. Biology Department, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada Luc.Martin@umoncton.ca evaluated whether low doses of the natural carotenoid fucoxanthin and/or of its metabolite fucoxanthinol are effective against proliferation of oestrogen-sensitive MCF-7 and oestrogen-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines.

Background

Methodology

These cell lines were stimulated with 10 to 20 μM fucoxanthin and/or fucoxanthinol, followed by cell viability assays, Annexin V immunofluorescence to evaluate apoptosis, as well as mRNA and protein extractions for changes in nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) members' expressions and nuclear translocations.

Results

Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol reduced the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a time-dependent manner as a result of increased apoptosis. In both cell lines, modulatory actions of fucoxanthinol on members of the NF-κB pathway were more pronounced than that of fucoxanthin.

Conclusion

In MDA-MB-231 cells, fucoxanthinol reduced nuclear levels of NF-κB members' p65, p52 and RelB. Fucoxanthinol and fucoxanthin could be effective for the treatment and/or prevention of breast cancer.

References

Rwigemera A1, Mamelona J1, Martin LJ2. Comparative effects between fucoxanthinol and its precursor fucoxanthin on viability and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Anticancer Res; 35(1):207-19. Jan 2015.

Comment

The above research demonstrated that the natural carotenoid fucoxanthin and its metabolite fucoxanthinol are effective against proliferation of oestrogen-sensitive MCF-7 and oestrogen-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines as a result of increased apoptosis and therefore could be clinically effective in treatment and/or prevention of breast cancer.