RESUMO
beta-Carboline alkaloids are natural products widely distributed in plants and also found in alcoholic beverages, well-cooked foods and tobacco smoke. Various authors have reported genotoxic activities of several carboline in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that have been attributed to their abilities to intercalate into DNA. But studies on the genotoxic and on the cytotoxic potencies in human cells in vitro are not found in the literature. In the present study the toxicities of one full aromatic beta-carboline alkaloid (harmine) and one dihydro-beta-carboline alkaloid (harmaline) were evaluated by means of two in vitro human cell assays: the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay and the viability/colony formation assay with four different human cultured non-transformed (CCD18Lu) and transformed (HeLa, C33A and SW480) cells. Neither alkaloid was able to induce micronuclei levels above that of control levels in a wide range of doses tested; although, harmine at the highest concentrations assayed induced apoptotic as well as necrotic cells. Harmine produced a good viability of all cell lines assayed (control and tumor) while harmaline significantly reduced the viability of transformed and non-transformed cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Harmine displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell proliferation against all human carcinoma cells, but the SW480 transformed cell line showed a higher sensitivity. These results suggested that harmine was identified as a useful inhibitor of tumor development.
Assuntos
Estimulantes do Sistema Nervoso Central/toxicidade , Harmalina/toxicidade , Harmina/toxicidade , Adulto , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Masculino , Testes para MicronúcleosRESUMO
Recently, there has been increased interest in the potential health benefits of plant lectins, particularly due to their anticancer effect. This updated review discusses literature data published on the anticancer activities of plant lectins and their possible molecular mechanism(s) of action.
Assuntos
Lectinas/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Lectinas/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Since cancer is the most common cause of death in the world population, the possibility that readily available natural substances from plants, vegetables, herbs, and spices may be beneficial in the prevention of cancer warrants closer examination. Saffron in filaments is the dried, dark red stigmata of Crocus sativus L. flowers and it is used as a spice, food colorant, and a drug in medicine. A growing body of research has demonstrated that saffron extract itself and its main constituents, the carotenoids, possess chemopreventive properties against cancer. This review discusses recent literature data and our results on the cancer chemopreventive activities of saffron and its main ingredients.
Assuntos
Crocus , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Fitoterapia , Preparações de Plantas/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Neoplasias/prevenção & controle , Preparações de Plantas/farmacologiaRESUMO
Recently, there has been increased interest in the potential health benefits of plant lectins, particularly due to their anti-cancer effect. This updated review discusses literature data published on the anticancer activities of plant lectins and their possible molecular mechanism(s) of action.
La importancia de estudiar compuestos naturales para utilizarlos como opciones médicas terapéuticas, específicamente contra el cáncer, nos da la pauta para realizar una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura concerniente a la actividad biológica de las lectinas vegetales, las cuales han sido reportadas por poseer propiedades tóxicas, citotóxicas, antitumorales y anticancerígenas. En este trabajo revisamos diferentes estudios publicados sobre el mecanismo de acción de las lectinas con respecto a su efecto antitumoral.
Assuntos
Humanos , Lectinas/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Lectinas/efeitos adversosRESUMO
El problema principal en el uso de agentes quimioprotectores en tratamiento de cáncer es la toxicidad potencial de estos medicamentos a células. Una manera de resolver este problema es el empleo de inhibidores de tumorogénesis que sean de origen natural. Recientemente se ha tenido mucho interés en buscar, entre varios extractos naturales de plantas, aquellos que posean actividades antitumorales y anticarcinigénicas, así como también en compuestos naturales presentes en productos alimenticios. Los extractos naturales o sus compuestos purificados han sido de interés en el estudio de algunos aspectos referentes al cáncer. El descubrimiento acerca de que las lectinas de plantas presentan actividad biológica sobre células transformadas, especialmente en relación con un efecto antitumoral, ha aumentado el interés en este campo. Otra especie natural con efecto antitumoral es el azafrán. En la presente revisión se comentan algunas investigaciones acerca de los efectos antitumorogénicos y anticarcinogénicos de las lectinas y el azafrán, así como de alguno de sus componentes, Asimismo se discute también el posible mecanismo por el cual las lectinas y el azagrán puede actuar como antitumorogénicos