Re: Lemons and Cancer

Evaluation of chemopreventive and cytotoxic effect of lemon seed extracts on human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) cells

* Jinhee Kim,
* Guddadarangavvanahally K. Jayaprakasha,
* Ram M. Uckoo,
* Bhimanagouda S. PatilCorresponding author

* Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845-2119, USA

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691511005643



Highlights

► Aqueous methanol extract from lemon showed the highest radical scavenging activity. ► Lemon extracts are an excellent source to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells. ► Lemon fractions are non-toxic to human normal breast cells. ► Lemons are a potential source to prevent human MCF-7 Breast Cancer cells.



Abstract

Extracts from lemon seed were investigated for the radical scavenging activity and apoptotic effects in human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells and non-malignant breast (MCF-12F) cells for the first time. Defatted seed powder was successively extracted with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), acetone, methanol (MeOH), and MeOH:water (80:20). The chemical constituents were identified and quantified by LC-MS and HPLC analysis, respectively. The highest radical scavenging activity of 62.2% and 91.3% was exhibited by MeOH:water (80:20) at 833 μg/mL in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTSradical dot+), respectively. In addition, the MeOH:water (80:20) extract showed the highest (29.1%, P < 0.01) inhibition of MCF-7 cells in MTT assay. Treatment of the MeOH:water (80:20) extract induced DNA fragmentation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Increased levels of Bax and cytosolic cytochrome C and decreased levels of Bcl2 were also observed in MeOH:water (80:20) treated MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, the MeOH:water (80:20) extract from lemon seed has potent antioxidant activity and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, leading to the inhibition of proliferation. These results suggest that aglycones and glucosides of the limonoids and flavonoid present in MeOH:water (80:20) extract may potentially serve as a chemopreventive agent for breast cancer. Tweet