Journal
MOLECULES
Volume 26, Issue 16, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165017
Keywords
carobs; chemoprevention; polyphenols; myricetin; naringenin; kaempferol; anti-oxidant activity; apoptosis; LC-MS; antiproliferative capacity
Funding
- European Regional Development Fund
- Republic of Cyprus through the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation [BlackGold INTEGRATED/0916/0019]
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The study explored the anti-cancer properties of Cypriot carobs for the first time, finding that the extracts' anti-proliferative capacity varied with carob maturity and extraction solvent. Specifically, extracts from ripe whole fruit with high Myricetin content showed specific activity against cancer cells.
Extracts derived from the Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob) tree have been widely studied for their ability to prevent many diseases mainly due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds. In this study, we explored, for the first time, the anti-cancer properties of Cypriot carobs. We produced extracts from ripe and unripe whole carobs, pulp and seeds using solvents with different polarities. We measured the ability of the extracts to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer and normal immortalized breast cells, using the MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and Western Blotting. The extracts' total polyphenol content and anti-oxidant action was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the DPPH assay. Finally, we used LC-MS analysis to identify and quantify polyphenols in the most effective extracts. Our results demonstrate that the anti-proliferative capacity of carob extracts varied with the stage of carob maturity and the extraction solvent. The Diethyl-ether and Ethyl acetate extracts derived from the ripe whole fruit had high Myricetin content and also displayed specific activity against cancer cells. Their mechanism of action involved caspase-dependent and independent apoptosis. Our results indicate that extracts from Cypriot carobs may have potential uses in the development of nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals.
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