Phenolic profiles and antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activities of Greek herbal infusions; balancing delight and chemoprevention?
Highlights
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- Chemopreventive potential of six aromatic plants’ infusions was tested.
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- LC-DAD-MS and GC–MS showed major differences in infusions’ phenolic profiles.
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- Infusions were rich in phenolics and exhibited radical scavenging activities.
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- Infusions inhibited proliferation in HT29 colon cancer and PC3 prostate cancer cells.
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- They additionally reduced IL-8 and regulated NF-kB in both cancer cell lines.
Abstract
Total
phenolic content, antioxidant activity and phenolic profiles of six
herbal infusions – namely rosemary, Cretan dittany, St. John’s Wort,
sage, marjoram and thyme were assayed. Additionally, the infusion
anticarcinogenic effect as to their ability to (a) scavenge free
radicals, (b) inhibit cell growth, (c) decrease IL-8 levels and (d)
regulate p65 subunit in epithelial colon cancer (HT29) and prostate
(PC3) cancer cells was investigated. LC-DAD-MS and GC–MS analyses showed
major qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic profiles of
the infusions. All herbal infusions exhibited antiradical activity which
correlated strongly with their total phenolic content. Infusions
exhibited the potential to inhibit cell growth and to reduce IL-8 levels
in HT29 colon and PC3 prostate cancer cells. The regulation reported in
p65 subunit in HT29 treated with St John’s Wort and in PC3 treated with
thyme might point to the NF-κB as the molecular target underlying the
effect of these infusions.
Abbreviations
- DPPH, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl;
- MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide;
- IL-8, interleukin-8;
- NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B;
- DMEM, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium
Keywords
- Herbal infusions;
- LC-DAD-MS;
- GC-MS;
- Polyphenols;
- Terpenic acids;
- Colon cancer;
- Prostate cancer;
- Cell growth arrest;
- Inflammation;
- IL-8;
- p65 Subunit
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
