Effect of microformulation on the bioactivity of an anthocyanin-rich bilberry pomace extract ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in vitro

In cell culture were compared the different release rates of anthocyanins from a bilberry pomace extract encapsulated either in food grade whey protein-based matrix capsules (WPC) or in pectin amid-based hollow spherical capsules (PHS). The impact of the formulations on typical anthocyanin-associated biological end points such as inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and suppression of cell growth in HT29 colon carcinoma cells was assessed. The purpose was to find whether the release rates are sufficient to maintain biological activity and whether encapsulation affected EGFR inhibitory and growth suppressive properties of the extract. Even though anthocyanin release from extract-loaded capsules was proven under cell culture conditions, the inhibitory potential toward the EGFR was diminished. However, nonencapsulated extract as well as both extract-loaded encapsulation systems diminished the growth of HT29 cells to a comparable extent. The loss of EGFR inhibitory properties by encapsulation despite anthocyanin release indicates substantial contribution of other further constituents not monitored so far. Taken together, both applied encapsulation strategies allowed anthocyanin release and maintained biological activity with respect to growth inhibitory properties. However, the loss of EGFR inhibitory effects emphasizes the need for biological profiling to estimate process-induced changes of plant constituent's beneficial potencies.

Effect of coffee combining green coffee bean constituents with typical roasting products on the Nrf2/ARE pathway in vitro and in vivo

This study investigated Nrf2-activating properties of a coffee blend combining raw coffee bean constituents with 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (CGA) as a lead component with typical roasting products such as N-methylpyridinium (NMP). In cell culture (HT29) the respective coffee extract (CN-CE) increased nuclear Nrf2 translocation and enhanced the transcription of ARE-dependent genes as exemplified for NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)A1, reflected in the protein level by an increase in GST enzyme activity. In a pilot human intervention study (29 healthy volunteers), daily consumption of 750 mL of CN-coffee for 4 weeks increased Nrf2 transcription in peripheral blood lymphocytes on average. However, the transcriptional response pattern of Nrf2/ARE-dependent genes showed substantial interindividual variations. The presence of SNPs in the Nrf2-promoter, reported recently, as well as the detection of GSTT1*0 (null) genotypes in the study collective strengthens the hypothesis that coffee acts as a modulator of Nrf2-dependent gene response in humans, but genetic polymorphisms play an important role in the individual response pattern.

Anthocyanin-rich blackberry extract suppresses the DNA-damaging properties of topoisomerase I and II poisons in colon carcinoma cells

In the present study, we addressed the question whether cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) or complex C3G-rich blackberry extracts affect human topoisomerases with special emphasis on the contribution of the potential degradation products phloroglucinol aldehyde (PGA) and protocatechuic acid (PCA). In HT29 colon carcinoma cells a C3G-rich blackberry extract suppressed camptothecin- (CPT-) or doxorubicin- (DOX-) induced stabilization of the covalent DNA-topoisomerase intermediate, thus antagonizing the effects of these classical topoisomerase poisons on DNA integrity. As a single compound, C3G (100 μM) decreased the DNA-damaging effects of CPT as well, but did not significantly affect those induced by DOX. At the highest applied concentration (100 μM), cyanidin protected DNA from CPT- and DOX-induced damage. Earlier reports on DNA-damaging properties of cyanidin were found to result most likely from the formation of hydrogen peroxide as an artifact in the cell culture medium when the incubation was performed in the absence of catalase. The suppression of hydrogen peroxide accumulation, achieved by the addition of catalase, demonstrated that cyanidin does not exhibit DNA-damaging properties in HT29 cells (up to 100 μM). The observed effects on topoisomerase interference and DNA protection against CPT or DOX were clearly limited to the parent compound and were not observed for the potential cyanidin degradation products PGA and PCA.

Coffees rich in chlorogenic acid or N-methylpyridinium induce chemopreventive phase II-enzymes via the Nrf2/ARE pathway in vitro and in vivo

Recently, the coffee constituents 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (CGA) and N-methylpyridinium (NMP) were identified as inducers of the Nrf2/antioxidant-response element (ARE) detoxifying pathway under cell-culture condition. To study the impact of CGA and NMP on the Nrf2-activating properties of a complex coffee beverage, two different model coffees were generated by variation of the roasting conditions: a low-roast coffee rich in CGA and a heavy-roast low in CGA but containing high levels of NMP. Activation of the Nrf2/antioxidant-response element pathway was monitored in vitro and in vivo.

Delphinidin inhibits a broad spectrum of receptor tyrosine kinases of the ErbB and VEGFR family

Delphinidin has been reported to inhibit EGFR signalling. To determine whether other receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are also influenced by delphinidin, we examined its ability to inhibit the kinase activity of EGFR, ErbB2, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3 and IGF1R in a cell-free test system. We found that delphinidin strongly inhibited the protein tyrosine kinase activity of all tested RTKs at low micromolar concentrations. In A431 and PAE cells, ligand-induced phosphorylation of the receptors was also potently suppressed, with a preference for the suppression of the activity of ErbB3 (IC(50) approximately 100 nM) and VEGFR-3 (IC(50) < 50 microM). Thus the inhibition of RTKs by delphinidin is not limited to cell-free assays but is also of relevance in the cellular context. The results indicate that delphinidin acts as a broad-spectrum inhibitor of RTKs. Given the crucial role of the receptors in tumour growth and metastasis, we conclude that delphinidin has the potential to act directly against tumour cells as well as to interfere with key tumour-host interactions, although the suitability of delphinidin as a drug in cancer management may be compromised by its limited stability. Nevertheless, delphinidin may represent a novel lead compound for the development of chemopreventative and chemotherapeutic intervention strategies.

Suppression of the kinase activity of receptor tyrosine kinases by anthocyanin-rich mixtures extracted from bilberries and grapes

Two standardized anthocyanin-rich mixtures were investigated for their ability to inhibit the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3. Both mixtures reduced the kinase activity of recombinant kinase domains of each RTK at concentrations <or=12.9 microg/mL, with preferential inhibition of VEGFR-2 and EGFR (<or=3.4 microg/mL). Similarly, ligand-induced autophosphorylation of these RTKs in human vulva carcinoma or porcine aortic endothelial cells was suppressed by both mixtures, with ErbB3 and VEGFR-3 being preferentially inhibited. Anthocyanin-rich extracts completely abrogated VEGFR-3 phosphorylation at concentrations of >or=50 microg/mL. These results indicate that anthocyanin-rich mixtures can inhibit RTKs with low specificity. The rank order of inhibitory efficacy against the tested RTKs in intact cells was VEGFR-3 >> VEGFR-2 > ErbB3 > EGFR > ErbB2. Considering the important role of RTKs in carcinogenesis, their inhibition by anthocyanin-rich mixtures suggests that they may serve as biomarkers of the pharmacological efficacy of anthocyanins in future chemoprevention experiments and in clinical intervention studies.